Bears sign elite linebacker to $72 million deal |
Tony Crumpton
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- Monday, March 13 2023
The Chicago Bears are making big moves on the first day of free agency.
First, they signed standout linebacker T.J. Edwards to a mega deal, got Justin Fields some protection with guard Nate Davis and now have signed former Buffalo Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a four-year deal worth $72M that includes $50M guaranteed. This is the largest four-year contract for an inside linebacker in the NFL. In 2022, the 24-year-old had 119 tackles, a sack, and an interception for the Bills. For his young NFL career, he has 565 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 35 passes defended. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019 and 2020. He has only missed six games in five seasons, so he is very durable. He was drafted in the first round by the bills in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Bears have taken the top two linebackers off the board in the NFL in the first few hours of free agency. Great job by management to target the defense and get the players they needed with all of their cap space available. Things are certainly looking up for Monsters of the Midway, and it should be fun to watch it all unfold in 2023. Tremaine Edmunds is the BEST rated coverage LB in the league (per PFF) he’s a massive 6’5” 255 lb with 4.5 sideline to sideline speed.
Tremaine Edmunds makes the #Bears Defense A LOT more Fun. TJ Edwards is a solid player that can play the Milano role flanking Edmunds. Just 25 Years Old. Appears they'll address Right Tackle in the Draft? Need to add to the DL in FA (plus the Draft). Tremaine Edmunds & TJ Edwards were a lot of peoples top 2 LB’s. T.J. Edwards + Tremaine Edmunds + 2nd round pick = $24.5M a year Bears signing LB Tremaine Edmunds to 4-year, $72M deal with $50M guranteed. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/583G7clDpk
Tremaine Edmunds is athletic and explosive, loaded with potential — and only 24. T.J. Edwards is a tackle machine and leader who fits well in Chicago. But #Bears’ No. 1 weakness (and priority) remains D-Line, and how Poles addresses that will help determine how new LBs play.
A new defensive leader in Chicago 💪🐻@maine_savage23 | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/7LKeLYsmxZ
He’s missed 6 total games in 5 full years. The Bears now have the 5th and 6th best graded LB’s (per PFF). #Bears #ChicagoBears
Bears got them both and Edwards got about 33% of Edmunds deal on an AAV basis.
OR
Roquan Smith = $20M a year?
