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.