The Chicago Bears cap a very busy day after trading wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills with another move.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports that the Bears have released linebacker Tremaine Edmunds from the team. Edmunds was given permission last week to seek a trade with another team.
Over the last three years, Edmunds has racked up over 100 tackles in each season, but has never made the Pro Bowl. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Bills in his first five years in the NFL.
Tremaine Edmunds' time in Chicago is over
It was an expected move as the Bears work on trying to save money towards the cap. They already saved over $16 million from trading away Moore. For Edmunds, the team just created $15 million more in cap space.
This is good news for the Bears, as Edmunds has not been the player they were hoping he would be. He and T.J. Edwards have been disappointments as the starting linebackers over the years, as Edwards would meet the same fate as Edmunds had it not been for his contract.
The next logical move for the Bears will be to bring back linebacker D'Marco Jackson on a new deal and make him the new starter with Edwards. Chicago can elevate 2025 fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II to be more involved in the defense.
After that, the team could look into the NFL Draft to add another linebacker to develop. The Bears will feel comfortable with Jackson starting, though, so they don't need to go high in the NFL Draft for a linebacker.
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Edmunds' time was short, but he ultimately wasn't the player Bears fans were hoping for. He will now get a new start and Chicago creates much needed cap space.