The Chicago Bears have been busy on the contract front. GM Ryan Poles made it his mission to ensure they secured cornerback Kyler Gordon to an extension before this season. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is a big fan, so that made it an easy decision. Once that was done, most people felt the pressure to do anything else could wait until after the draft. Apparently, Poles didn't get the memo. Barely 24 hours later, the Bears struck again. According to Ian Rapoport, the team reached a two-year extension agreement with linebacker T.J. Edwards, keeping him in Chicago through 2027.
At $10 million per year, Edwards will make the same amount of money as Foyesade Oluokun and Bobby Okereke. He had more tackles (129) and sacks (4) than both of those players last season. That is without mentioning his interception and forced fumble. At 28 years old, there is no reason to believe Edwards is nearing a point in his career where age is becoming a concern. Provided he stays healthy, he should remain productive through the entirety of his contract.
The Chicago Bears seem content with their linebacker room for now.
That isn't a surprise. Edwards is a really good player. He should have no problem fitting into Allen's system. The same goes for Tremaine Edmunds in the middle, at least for this year. Only one spot will get some consideration, which is the one vacated by Jack Sanborn. It wouldn't be surprising if the Chicago Bears draft a linebacker at some point, but probably not until at least the 3rd round, if not later. Expectations are that they will focus their efforts on other areas like defensive end, defensive tackle, and safety. Keeping Edwards in place at such an affordable price is a big win for the organization. It will be interesting to see what he accomplishes next.
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