Bears give LB Tremaine Edmunds $72 million contract

The Chicago Bears are giving Buffalo Bills free agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds a four-year, $72 million contract that features $50 million assured, a supply advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It is the most important four-year contract for an inside linebacker within the NFL.

Edmunds is the second beginning linebacker added by the Bears on Monday. Earlier within the day, the Bears agreed to a three-year contract with Philadelphia Eagles free-agent T.J. Edwards value $19.5 million, together with $12 million in assured cash, a supply advised ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.

The Bears additionally made a transfer to bolster their offensive line, agreeing to a three-year contract with Tennessee Titans free agent guard Nate Davis, a supply advised ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network.

Over Edmunds’ 5 years with the Bills, the linebacker has developed into one of many protection’s leaders and key gamers. He has been a starter from the leap, beginning all 74 common season video games and eight postseason video games he has performed.

The sixteenth total choice within the 2018 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech — after the Bills traded as much as choose quarterback Josh Allen at No. 7 — Edmunds will flip simply 25 years outdated in May regardless of already taking part in 5 NFL seasons.

The two-time Pro Bowl choice has had 100-plus tackles each season he has performed. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has spoken about desirous to see Edmunds make extra splash performs. Edmunds has 5 profession interceptions, 35 passes defended, 2 pressured fumbles and 6.5 sacks.

Edmunds has improved in move protection, along with his route consciousness and skill to get to depth as a zone defender. He’s an extended, 6-foot-5 linebacker with downhill acceleration towards the run and second-level vary to trace the ball.

In 2022, he performed in 13 video games, lacking time with accidents, however coach Sean McDermott was impressed by the season he put collectively, calling it “his best year” and noting how he grew as a frontrunner and in his efficiency.

Edmunds has been chargeable for distributing the playcalls on the defensive facet of the ball and was named a defensive captain every of the final 4 seasons.

Davis, 26, began 54 video games at proper guard for the Titans during the last 4 seasons, together with 12 begins in 2022 earlier than an ankle harm landed him on injured reserve in December. His move block win price of 93.2% was the best amongst Tennessee’s offensive linemen, whereas he completed with a run block win price of 68.8%.

Davis, who made his first profession begin in Week 5 of his rookie season after being chosen within the third spherical of the 2019 draft, can attain block or climb in zone-run schemes, and he can set an anchor to tackle energy rushers in move safety.

He began all 16 video games in his second season, serving to pave the best way for Derrick Henry to grow to be the eighth working again in NFL historical past to hurry for two,000 or extra yards. He returned in 2021 to start out 14 video games at proper guard because the Titans completed with a 12-5 file and the highest seed within the AFC.

ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, Turron Davenport and Matt Bowen contributed to this report.