The offseason kicked into high gear with the calendar turning to March, and the Buffalo Bills helped get the party started in their trade for Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore. But the Bills might not be done with former Bears, as Chicago kept the party going on Thursday by announcing hours later that the team will move on from linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
The Bears are clearing cap space, likely in an effort to make a move for Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. The Bills were tight on cap space before trading for Moore, though general manager Brandon Beane will be able to lessen the blow of Moore’s overall cap hit, which is set to be $24.4 million in 2026.
Either way, with Edmunds now set to become a free agent, the Bills don’t have to spend more resources in the draft if they want to set up a reunion with him. But now the question is whether they can afford him on the open market, as Edmunds is sure to draw plenty of interest as a soon-to-be 28-year-old with eight years of NFL experience.
Tremaine Edmunds reunion could bring stability to Bills' linebacker situation, if the price is right
Edmunds likely won’t command the same lofty price tag he had three seasons ago when he left Buffalo for Chicago in free agency, a four-year, $72 million deal, which effectively paid him $18 million per year. Over the Cap set his free agency valuation at $7.3 million per year, which could be a tad conservative given his consistent play over the years.
Still, being that he’s still two years away from turning 30, a multi-year deal worth a tad closer to $10 million per season doesn’t seem out of the question. And that should appear on the surface much more enticing than bringing back Matt Milano or Shaq Thompson for one season, as both turn 32 this offseason.
Signing Edmunds to such a contract will be more than doable for Buffalo once Beane balances the spreadsheets with restructured contracts at the top of the roster, opening up over $50 million in cap space.
That said, Buffalo will have to consider if the reunion is worth it, too. From a scheme perspective, Edmunds is more than versatile enough to fit into Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 setup. The last time he was a free agent, 3-4 teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers showed interest before he landed in Chicago.Â
As for his production, Bills Mafia is aware that Edmunds is a steady player rather than an explosive difference maker. He doesn’t force many turnovers or create a ton of splash plays, averaging just two interceptions, a single sack, and six tackles for loss per year over his career. That said, he was more impactful in Chicago, hauling in nine interceptions and picking up his first two career fumble recoveries in the past three years. His being cut was a financial decision for Chicago, not a production one, to be clear.
Buffalo has plenty of options in how to deal with the vacant inside backer position next to Terrel Bernard. But there aren’t many options as rock-solid as a reunion with Edmunds, making a Bills reunion something for the franchise to strongly consider over the next week ahead of free agency.