Chicago Bears: 5 best moves of the 2023 offseason

3. The Chicago Bears stole T.J. Edwards in free agency

Going into free agency, former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards was thought to get somewhere between $10-$14 million annually, by some outlets. Instead, Poles signed Edwards to a 3-year deal worth $19.5 million, for an average of $6.5 million annually.

Considering Edwards was the leading tackler, by a mile, on one of the league’s top defenses and a unit that went to the Super Bowl, that was an absolute steal. Poles committed highway robbery with that signing.

Edwards tallied 159 tackles, including 10 for a loss, and seven passes defended in 2022. He was also targeted a good amount in the passing game (76 times) and did not give up a single touchdown. At 26 years old, too, this deal was a home run.

The Bears had a gaping hole at linebacker. And, obviously, Tremaine Edmunds was a great signing. But, Chicago spent a hefty amount on Edmunds. Edwards, meanwhile, came in for peanuts based on what he was actually worth. Edwards fills a monumental need for the Bears, whose linebacker group was average, at best, a year ago.