Chicago Bears release LB Tremaine Edmunds

The Chicago Bears' release of Tremaine Edmunds earns a D+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a verdict that reflects the structural pain of cutting a $12M AAV linebacker mid-contract cycle. Edmunds carries above-average capability at the position—the kind of two-down thumper defenses value in a 4-3 scheme—but the $36M total commitment against his on-field production and age trajectory made this a necessary cap correction. The CVI signals that whatever Edmunds contributed in Chicago, the salary-to-output ratio had deteriorated significantly, forcing the front office to absorb dead cap rather than continue subsidizing his deal through the regular season. For a team sitting at 11-6 and positioned as an NFC North contender, the calculus suggests the Bears either found a cheaper alternative at linebacker or concluded Edmunds' declining snap share didn't justify retention in a win-now window. This cut represents a cap reset move, not a vote of confidence—and the recent noise around his potential elsewhere underscores that NFL teams see more value in him as a free agent than Chicago did keeping him on the books. The D+ CVI captures that awkward middle ground: not a catastrophic overpay in hindsight, but a deal that outlived its utility faster than management intended.