Bears Could Release $72 Million LB and Fan Favorite to Focus on Caleb Williams
As the 2025 offseason gets underway, all 32 NFL teams are evaluating their rosters, including the Chicago Bears, who may be preparing for major changes. With first-time head coach Ben Johnson leading the team, the Bears have several areas to address, particularly on both the offensive and defensive lines. While they currently have $63 million in salary cap space, they could free up even more by parting ways with certain players.
NFL.com’s Matt Okada recently listed potential cut candidates for NFC teams, and two Bears linebackers—Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards—were named.
“The Bears have a solid amount of cap space but need to allocate their resources wisely to build around Caleb Williams,” Okada wrote on February 17. “This could mean making difficult financial decisions, including moving on from players at certain positions.”
Could the Bears Move on From Tremaine Edmunds?
Edmunds, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal with Chicago in 2023 with $50 million guaranteed, carries a $22.4 million cap hit in 2024 and $17.4 million in 2025. If the Bears were to cut him before the 2025 season, they could save roughly $14.9 million in cap space, though they would still absorb a dead cap hit from his prorated signing bonus.
Okada noted that unless Edmunds is designated as a post-June 1 cut, his release wouldn’t provide immediate cap relief in free agency. However, his performance might also be a factor—despite being a steady contributor with over 100 tackles in each of his seven NFL seasons, he has recorded just 1.0 sack and eight tackles-for-loss in his two seasons with Chicago. While cutting Edmunds seems unlikely, some analysts believe it remains a possibility.
Is T.J. Edwards a Cut Candidate?
Edwards has earned a reputation as a fan favorite due to his reliability and physical style of play. Signed to a three-year, $19.5 million contract in 2023, he has one year remaining on his deal with a $7 million cap hit in 2025. If released, the Bears would take on a $1.5 million dead cap charge but would free up $5.5 million.
However, considering his solid performance and team-friendly contract, it would be surprising if Edwards were cut outright. A trade seems more plausible if the Bears decide to move on from him. Since Chicago isn’t in desperate need of cap space, they may prefer to keep him as a valuable piece of their defense.
Other potential cap casualties include tight end Gerald Everett and defensive end DeMarcus Walker. However, if Johnson isn’t sold on either linebacker, the Bears could still consider making a move.