When the Chicago Bears signed Tremaine Edmunds to a massive contract in 2023, no one expected him to rank this low on a list of the team’s most important players by 2025.
But after two underwhelming seasons in Chicago, there’s a very real chance 2025 could be his final year with the team.
Ranking Most Important Chicago Bears: No. 17 — Tremaine Edmunds
Edmunds is being paid like a top-five linebacker, and based on his breakout 2022 season in Buffalo, there was justification for that investment. A former first-round pick, he was still young despite his experience and appeared to be on the rise at the right time. However, his first four NFL seasons were inconsistent, and 2022 now looks more like an outlier than a sign of who he truly is.
At times, Edmunds seems slow to react, which costs him in both the run and pass game. His size and athleticism allow him to recover and stay in plays, keeping him from being a true liability. But he’s playing closer to an average, or even below-average, starter than the cornerstone linebacker the Bears thought they were getting.
Financially, Chicago can save $15 million by moving on from Edmunds next offseason. With a new coaching staff in place, the more realistic question is whether he’ll be asked to take a pay cut or be let go outright, not whether he plays in 2026 on his current deal.
Still, when you look at the Bears’ linebacker room, it’s clear they’re still counting on him for now. The team released Jack Sanborn this offseason, a surprise move that left them thin at the position, signaling that Edmunds and T.J. Edwards remain the unquestioned starters. If Edmunds were to get hurt or regress even further, the defense would feel it.
Read more: Ranking most important Bears on 2025 roster: Number 18 is big-name free agent
For now, Edmunds is firmly a top-20 player on the roster due to his role and the team’s lack of depth at linebacker. However, he has fallen short of top-15 status, which is a disappointing reality given his contract and expectations.