Bears $72 Million Linebacker Could Draw Interest From Vikings, Eagles, Broncos

Tremaine Edmunds may be a cap casualty in Chicago, attracting suitors with his strong 2025 season.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 1:23pm

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The Chicago Bears may release veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who is entering the final year of a $72 million contract. Several teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Denver Broncos, could have interest in signing Edmunds if he becomes available. Edmunds had a strong 2025 season, recording 4 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, and 112 tackles, with an elite 81.3 PFF grade against the run.

Why it matters

Edmunds' potential release would create $15 million in cap space for the Bears, who are currently over the salary cap. The Vikings, Eagles, and Broncos all have needs at linebacker, with key free agents at the position, and Edmunds' all-around skills would be an attractive addition for any of those teams.

The details

Edmunds, 27, is entering the final year of a 5-year, $72 million contract with the Bears. While he had a productive 2025 season, the Bears may need to create cap space, making Edmunds a potential cut candidate. The Vikings, Eagles, and Broncos all have linebacker needs, with the Vikings' Ivan Pace Jr. and Eric Wilson, the Broncos' Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, and the Eagles' Nakobe Dean all set to hit free agency.

  • Edmunds is entering the final year of his 5-year, $72 million contract with the Bears in 2026.

The players

Tremaine Edmunds

A 27-year-old linebacker for the Chicago Bears who had a strong 2025 season, recording 4 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, and 112 tackles with an elite 81.3 PFF grade against the run.

Ivan Pace Jr.

A pending free agent linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings.

Eric Wilson

A pending free agent linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings.

Alex Singleton

A pending free agent linebacker for the Denver Broncos.

Justin Strnad

A pending free agent linebacker for the Denver Broncos.

Nakobe Dean

A pending free agent linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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What they’re saying

“For a team that is currently over the cap, no player has a cleaner 'out' in his contract than Edmunds, whose release would create $15 million of cap space while counting as only $2.4 million of dead money. That doesn't mean it's an easy decision.”

— Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic

What’s next

The Bears will need to decide whether to keep Edmunds or release him to create much-needed cap space. If he becomes available, the Vikings, Eagles, and Broncos will likely be among the teams interested in signing the veteran linebacker.

The takeaway

Tremaine Edmunds' potential release by the Bears highlights the difficult salary cap decisions teams must make, even with productive players. His all-around skills would make him an attractive target for linebacker-needy teams like the Vikings, Eagles, and Broncos, showcasing the ripple effects of one team's cap management decisions.