Bears Sign Tremaine Edmunds
We saw it coming but now it’s official. The Bills were expected to lose Tremaine Edmunds and that’s exactly what happened after the former Virginia Tech product signed with the Bears at the start of free agency. Edmunds will sign a $72 million contact with Chicago for four years.
Adam Schefter of ESPN was the first to report the news:
Edmunds, 24, is a highly athletic linebacker. Edmunds thrives defending the pass which is what makes him so valuable. According to PFF, his coverage grade of 90.0 was first among all linebackers. PFF is trash so take it with a grain of salt but a blind monkey could tell you that Edmunds makes plays with the ball in the air. In five years with the Bills, Edmunds has five interceptions and 35 pass deflections.
Run defense and tackling is what the Edmunds detractors will first point to. Not a lot of sack production either (6.5) in five years with Buffalo. However, he’s never failed to record 100 tackles in any given season and has age very much on his side. You’re getting a player here who is just about to enter his prime. The best years are very much ahead.
Given the deal that Buffalo handed Matt Milano, you can understand why they moved on. Still, this is not an easy player to replace. The free agent market also isn’t flush with other premier options at the linebacker position. Given where the Bills are at with the cap, Buffalo may decide the draft is their chance to replace Edmunds.
Chicago also added TJ Edwards via free agency earlier in the day. After losing Roquan Smith, Chicago has finally beefed up their linebacker group with two lesser players. I like Edmunds so it’s fair to say Poles rebounded well even if it’s a bit of an overpay.
