Bears ink Pro Bowler on the first day of free agency
The Chicago Bears made another big splash in the free agency pool by signing one of the most talented defenders on the market.
The Chicago Bears are in a spending spree during the first day of the NFL’s free agency period.
Having already inked LB T.J. Edwards earlier on Monday, Chicago has come to an agreement with Bills star ILB Tremaine Edmunds on a three-year deal worth $74 million, including $50 million guaranteed according to Ian Rapoport.
Edmunds' new deal is the largest in the NFL at the inside linebacker position.
General manager Ryan Poles has quickly assembled one of the best linebacker duos in football. Strengthening the middle of the Bears’ defense was a top priority for the team that lacks experience in the secondary.
Edmunds finished the 2022 season with a team-high 102 tackles along with six tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. The two-time Pro Bowler has led the Bills in tackles in four of his five seasons with a second-place finish in 2019.
He is also a valuable piece in pass defense. In 2022, the Bills were .19 EPA worse against the pass when Edmunds was on the sideline versus when he was on the field. It might not look like much on the surface, but it’s roughly the difference between the NFL’s fourth-best defense against the pass compared to the 29th ranked pass defense in the league.
The addition of Edmunds completely changes the way the Bears’ defense should be viewed. It’s not quite the ’85 Bears, but it’s a defense that projects to be significantly improved from 2022.
