The Chicago Bears have granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade, according to ESPN. The 27-year-old is entering the final season of his four-year, $72 million contract signed in 2023. Edmunds carries a $13.9 million base salary for 2026 with a $1 million roster bonus due early in the league year.

If no trade materializes, Edmunds could become a cap casualty, freeing up $15 million in salary cap space for Chicago. General manager Ryan Poles acknowledged tough decisions ahead, noting the team's talented roster creates cap constraints. "There's a couple guys we've got to make decisions on," Poles said when asked about Edmunds' future.

Edmunds led the Bears with 112 tackles last season despite missing four games with a groin injury. The first-round pick from 2018 has posted at least 102 tackles in each of his eight NFL seasons. His departure would mark a significant change for Chicago's defense, which relied on his leadership and production. The news was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.