With linebackers Shaq Thompson and Matt Milano both set to hit free agency at 32 years old and a new 3-4 scheme coming to the Buffalo Bills’ defense, general manager Brandon Beane is going to have to pay some attention to the inside linebacker position this offseason.
There’s certainly talent at the position in this year’s draft, but it’s also not a position firmly at the top of the team’s list of needs like wide receiver and edge rusher are. In that respect, Beane can handle the position through free agency or a trade. In fact, the trading block just got a bit more interesting at the position.
Former Bills first-round pick, Tremaine Edmunds, has reportedly been given the green light by the Chicago Bears to seek a trade, according to team beat reporter Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Buffalo Bills face intriguing decision on Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds trade possibility
Edmunds is set to enter the final year of his four-year, $72 million contract, which he signed after departing from Buffalo in 2022 after five seasons with the team. However, he has no remaining guaranteed money left on his contract, though he is due $15 million in 2026.
In three years with the Bears, Edmunds continued to play consistent football, racking up a minimum of 110 tackles in all three seasons and even taking a jump in coverage, snagging nine interceptions in Chicago.
Naturally, there’s some intrigue in the idea of Edmunds reuniting with Buffalo, though understandably, scheme fit comes into question.
As Bills Mafia is aware, Edmunds is a big, fast linebacker. He’s an effective traditional Cover 2 Mike backer, which is what allowed him to be so successful in Sean McDermott’s scheme in Buffalo. In Chicago, though, Edmunds worked with three different defensive coordinators, and the most recent, Dennis Allen, operates a multiple-front 4-3 scheme.
That can give some confidence to the idea of Edmunds’ scheme versatility. Certainly, at his size, he can weather the rigors of playing inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. When he was a free agent in 2022, 3-4 teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers showed interest in picking him up.
Regardless, Edmunds is an eight-year veteran who is turning 28 in May. Over the Cap’s free agent valuation for Edmunds is just $7.3 million per season, a stiff drop from his $18 million per year average in Chicago. While that does put a damper on the trade value to bring Edmunds back to Buffalo via trade, if he’s signed to a new contract, it’s tough to spot a more reliable fix at the position.
That goes double for the free agent middle linebacker pool, which is front-loaded by 30+ year old backers who are well past their prime.
If the price is right, Beane would be wise to at least entertain the idea of bringing Edmunds back into the fold in Buffalo to give DC Jim Leonhard a meaningful presence in the middle of the defense.