After leading the league in takeaways last season covered up a number of flaws, general manager Ryan Poles made it clear the intent was to get younger and faster on defense this offseason. Most notably in the secondary, particularly at safety with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker swapped out for Coby Bryant and Dillon Thieneman, that plan was carried out.
If the makeup of the Bears' defense really changes between now and Week 1, the addition of a veteran edge rusher would be the entirety of the list as things are right now. But circumstances can and do change, and with that, other potential moves could end up on the radar.
Jacob Infante of Pro Football Network had offered one trade candidate for each NFL team as OTAS roll on. For the Bears, he went with linebacker T.J. Edwards.
'The Chicago Bears have shown a preference towards adding speed on defense, which is a mantra that T.J. Edwards doesn’t necessarily meet. His 77.1 PFSN LB Impact Score is the worst score he’s had since 2020, and he’s been a liability for them in coverage. He’s still a smart, physical linebacker, so a team in need of an upgrade at the position could offer a Day 3 selection to take Edwards off Chicago’s hands."
Trading T.J. Edwards doesn't really make sense right now
After playing all 17 games in each of his first two seasons as a Bear, the worm turned for Edwards last year. A hamstring injury early was followed by a hand injury that required surgery, causing him to miss a total of seven regular season games. Then, he suffered a fractured fibula in the Wild Card Round win over the Green Bay Packers.
Edwards has made it clear his rehab is going well, and he intends to be ready when the time comes. With Tremaine Edmunds gone, linebackers coach Richard Smith has made it clear how valuable Edwards is as a veteran in the position group.
Leaving aside how he's progressing from his playoff leg injury, trading Edwards would leave the Bears to rely on some unproven options in a critical role this season. D'Marco Jackson took advantage of his opportunity in Edwards' absence last season, but those are also the only four starts he has had in his career. After Jackson, the linebacker depth chart gets thin on proven options rather quickly.
The 2026 season is a huge one for Edwards, and the Bears seem to be forming a plan to replace him with the drafting of the underappreciated Elliott. But the time for that plan to be fully implemented feels like 2027, when Edwards could be a prime cut or trade candidate entering the final year of his contract.
Read more: Attempt to keep Cole Kmet on Bears' offseason trade block lands just as expected
Infante's premise for trading Edwards seems rooted in a team that needs a veteran linebacker calling the Bears, and making an offer they might have a hard time refusing. But they need a veteran linebacker like him, too, unless the equation notably changes between now and the start of the season.
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