The Chicago Bears could trade veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards if the price is right. Their depth at linebacker, combined with his age and injury status, could make this the right time for the two sides to part ways, according to Jacob Infante of Pro Football Network.
The Chicago Bears could trade T.J. Edwards in 2026
The case for trading Edwards makes sense.
He is coming off a fractured leg, and because the injury occurred during the playoffs, his recovery timeline and availability entering the season remain questions. Edwards is signed through 2027, but none of his remaining salary is guaranteed. That means the Bears already have the flexibility to move on from him after this season if they choose.
If they were able to trade him this year, they would save $8.5 million in cap space. That money could be used to add talent during the season or rolled over into next year. On top of that, the Bears have built considerable depth at linebacker.
They signed Devin Bush and re-signed D'Marco Jackson, who could end up starting next to Bush. They also have former draft picks Noah Sewell, Ruben Hyppolite, and Keyshaun Elliott competing for roles. That does not even include bringing back Jack Sanborn.
If there is one position where the Bears appear capable of dealing from a position of strength, it is linebacker. From that perspective, the logic is easy to follow. The Bears could clear cap space, add a draft pick, and potentially move on from a player they may already be considering parting ways with after the season.
The bigger question is whether another team would be interested.
Edwards turns 30 this season, and he is coming off a significant injury. If the Bears have questions about what he can provide moving forward, any interested team would likely have similar concerns.
That team would also be taking on his contract while giving up assets in return. Without seeing him fully healthy and back on the field, it is difficult to imagine a team offering significant draft compensation. That is where the discussion becomes tricky. It is hard to imagine a team offering more than a conditional Day 3 draft pick at this stage.
For that reason, the Bears may determine that Edwards is more valuable on their roster than he is on the trade market. For a team with playoff aspirations, that type of depth can be difficult to replace.
The idea of trading Edwards makes sense on paper, especially when looking at the cap savings and linebacker depth. The challenge is finding a team willing to give up enough value to make the move worthwhile for Chicago.
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