The Chicago Bears have garnered a lot of attention for their exploits this offseason, including hiring head coach Ben Johnson, but the process began in 2022 with another leap in 2023 when the team signed linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, who both appeared on ESPN’s top-10 LBs list for 2025.
Where they landed is where the list gets most interesting and, perhaps, telling.
Bears LBs Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards Command Spots in Noteworthy Group
Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds Carries Familiar Question Mark
For this year’s list, which consisted of 70 coaches, front office personnel, and scouts, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on July 15 that ‘voters are mixed on Edmunds,” citing mismatched production with his talent at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds with plus-speed and range.
He noted that scouts, who often favor traits, “tend to lean” Edmunds’ way because of his physical abilities.
However, he has faced persistent questions about his production and even his instincts.
“He has the prototypical physique, athletic ability and speed that you covet in an ILB in today’s game,” an anonymous NFL personnel director said, per Fowler. “He can diagnose playing downhill in the box, he can play sideline to sideline and has the coverage ability to match up in zone or man coverage.”
Still, Fowler pointed to Edmunds’ lack of production, citing that he has not earned a Pro Bowl nod since 2020 and had a career-low 3 tackles for loss in 2024.
He also logged 8 pass deflections, his most since the 2019 season.
“Smart, but not as instinctive as you’d hope,” an anonymous NFL coordinator said, per Fowler, continuing the trend for Edmunds. “If you put his ability with [teammate T.J. Edwards’] instincts, you’d have an All-Pro.”
Notably, Edwards has 284 combined tackles to 223 for Edmunds since they signed with the Bears.
This marks Edmunds’ sixth appearance on the list.
Edmunds, the No. 16 overall pick in 2018 by the Buffalo Bills, has earned a spot on every iteration. He peaked at No. 3 heading into the 2023 season and debuted at No. 7 on the first list in 2020.
There has also been a belief that Edmunds would be better served playing weakside linebaker (WILL) rather than in the middle at MIKE.
In the end, the Bears can take solace in Edmunds’ continued status among the top-10 LBs.
T.J. Edwards Overlooked on Top-10 LBs List
Edwards, like Edmunds and the Bears in general, took a step back last season to end up among the “others receiving votes” category on this year’s list. He was an “honorable mention” on the 2023 list.
Edwards’ production in 2023 was viewed by some as a “knock” against Edmunds in 2024.
“He’s really good,” an unnamed NFC executive said, per Fowler then. “Not a premier athlete, but he was one of Chicago’s best players last year.”
Edwards signed a two-year, $20 million extension in April, locking him in through the 2027 season. However, Edmunds is in Year 3 of a four-year, $72 million deal, and the Bears can cut him in 2026 to save a potentially much-needed $15 million with $2.4 million in dead money.
That could make 2025 a critical season for Edmunds with the Bears.