Bears Sign TJ Edwards to 2 year extension

[BearFan PHX]

This is excellent news. We really are going to be a team for several years. Edwards has been playing very well.

I wonder how long Edmunds will stick around, we are paying him a fortune. He's got all the measurables, but his production has been lacking. Maybe the new scheme and coaches will unlock him, otherwise, his days could be numbered - probably after this year. It gets very cheap to cut him next year.

[Stinger226]

Edmonds hasn't played up to the contract but he hasn't been playing bad. Allen may be the answer to getting our monies worth. The only left is to resign Thuney.

[adam]

I love this move. Edwards has played above his current deal, now locked up for 3 more years.

The 2026 Defense has Sweat, Odeyingbo, Jarrett, Dexter, Edmunds, Edwards, Gordon, Johnson, and Stevenson. Safety is the only position without a starter signed thru at least 2026. Edmunds probably a cap casualty, but that is a ton of continuity on the defensive side of the ball. Safety may be a higher priority with Brisker's health and Byard's age.

The entire starting offense is also signed thru 2026 besides Thuney and the LT. So right now 9 of 11 on offense and defense signed thru 2026. 

 

[Stinger226]

7 minutes ago, adam said:

I love this move. Edwards has played above his current deal, now locked up for 3 more years.

The 2026 Defense has Sweat, Odeyingbo, Jarrett, Dexter, Edmunds, Edwards, Gordon, Johnson, and Stevenson. Safety is the only position without a starter signed thru at least 2026. Edmunds probably a cap casualty, but that is a ton of continuity on the defensive side of the ball. Safety may be a higher priority with Brisker's health and Byard's age.

The entire starting offense is also signed thru 2026 besides Thuney and the LT. So right now 9 of 11 on offense and defense signed thru 2026. 

 

Poles has identified the core players and sign them. Brisker's health is the key to need at S , if healthy, he will be here next year also. If Byard plays well, he did last year, they could bring him back. Backups are solid NFL players.

[Mongo3451]

Good signing with solid value.  Same with Gordon.

[BearFan PHX]

It's good to have a team play together for multiple years too. thats a talent multiplier.

I think Poles has a very clear plan for how to do things and I think hes done a great job at that, he just sucks at picking coaches and players LOL but with support from the staff it should all work out well.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

This is excellent news. We really are going to be a team for several years. Edwards has been playing very well.

I wonder how long Edmunds will stick around, we are paying him a fortune. He's got all the measurables, but his production has been lacking. Maybe the new scheme and coaches will unlock him, otherwise, his days could be numbered - probably after this year. It gets very cheap to cut him next year.

I believe I read the Edmunds had to play deep, like Urlacher in Flus's D.  Which would have taken him out of the immediate action for runs since the D lines gap responsibilities would funnel the ball to Edward's.  Allen's D is ran different and supposedly Edmunds and Edward's will be open to attack the ball.  The DBs would be more man 

It will be interesting to watch this form.  It might fit Stevenson and Johnson better too.

[BearFan PHX]

54 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I believe I read the Edmunds had to play deep, like Urlacher in Flus's D.  Which would have taken him out of the immediate action for runs since the D lines gap responsibilities would funnel the ball to Edward's.  Allen's D is ran different and supposedly Edmunds and Edward's will be open to attack the ball.  The DBs would be more man 

It will be interesting to watch this form.  It might fit Stevenson and Johnson better too.

I always wanted Edmunds to play the Urlacher role as long as we were playing cover 2, but I saw Flus always had him at even depth with Edmunds. Like a perfect zone on a chalkboard - which only works for feeble minds like Flus'. I don't think they used him well at all. So I have hope that in the new scheme he will thrive. I wanted us to draft him over Roquan that year. He has all the tools, but he has to prove it on the field, cuz his production has been awful.

There's reason for hope this year for Edmunds, but he hasnt shown it yet, so it's on him to step up, or move on after this year.

[AZ54]

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Good signing with solid value.  Same with Gordon.

Have you seen the contract details?  I'm surprised by this.  Edwards is too slow to cover on the boundary so this makes me wonder if the plan is to move him inside...that's if Allen doesn't care about a MLB who can cover the deep middle.  I can't say I know anything about his scheme other than what's said here I just find this a curious move for an aging but still decent LB.  He's not going to get faster after he turns 30.  The plan here would be to cut Edmunds and draft his replacement, or sign a value FA.  Veterans want to play for us now.  

[AZ54]

Wow...never thought he'd get that much money.... 2yr $20mil.    

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/4/16/24410177/chicago-bears-roster-tj-edwards-extension-2026-nfl-free-agency

Estimating a $10mil cap hit/yr puts us at $44mil in cap space for 2026 with 30 players on the roster according to OTC.   Cutting Edmunds gets us back to $59mil in cap space.  I expect Thuney gets a big chunk but we can still have some fun next offseason.   The question is does LT also get a big chunk?  

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, AZ54 said:

Have you seen the contract details?  I'm surprised by this.  Edwards is too slow to cover on the boundary so this makes me wonder if the plan is to move him inside...that's if Allen doesn't care about a MLB who can cover the deep middle.  I can't say I know anything about his scheme other than what's said here I just find this a curious move for an aging but still decent LB.  He's not going to get faster after he turns 30.  The plan here would be to cut Edmunds and draft his replacement, or sign a value FA.  Veterans want to play for us now.  

Any player addition now on defense is with DAs blessing.i don't know that much about DAs to say who is and isn't going to be effective. If we go by value, he was the best signing Poles has made since he's been here. 

[Mongo3451]

10 hours ago, AZ54 said:

Have you seen the contract details?  I'm surprised by this.  Edwards is too slow to cover on the boundary so this makes me wonder if the plan is to move him inside...that's if Allen doesn't care about a MLB who can cover the deep middle.  I can't say I know anything about his scheme other than what's said here I just find this a curious move for an aging but still decent LB.  He's not going to get faster after he turns 30.  The plan here would be to cut Edmunds and draft his replacement, or sign a value FA.  Veterans want to play for us now.  

Yes, on the contract details.  I'm confused on your concern with this signing.  He's our leading tackler and covers the area you say he's too slow for.

As far as Edmunds is concerned; I would bring him in for a pay cut or outright cut.  He quit on the team last year, so that showed the football world his character.

[Stinger226]

Last year was a shit show, everyone gets a fresh start with new coaches. Lots of people quit last year. 

[BearFan PHX]

Even without quitting Edmunds has failed to live up to his massive potential, both here and in Buffalo. He has this year to show otherwise in a new scheme, but he is on a prove it or lose it probation. Im not betting against him, but he has to show it this year.

[AZ54]

5 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Yes, on the contract details.  I'm confused on your concern with this signing.  He's our leading tackler and covers the area you say he's too slow for.

As far as Edmunds is concerned; I would bring him in for a pay cut or outright cut.  He quit on the team last year, so that showed the football world his character.

For sure we disagree.  I see him chasing from behind when routes go downfield.  Love him within 10 yards of the LOS.  If our pass rush is good enough we don’t have to worry about double moves on routes from RBs then he’s good.  Staying in phase with RBs downfield was something Roquan was good at.  

[Mongo3451]

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

For sure we disagree.  I see him chasing from behind when routes go downfield.  Love him within 10 yards of the LOS.  If our pass rush is good enough we don’t have to worry about double moves on routes from RBs then he’s good.  Staying in phase with RBs downfield was something Roquan was good at.  

OLB's aren't meant to cover RB's downfield for very long without safety help. Using Roquan as an example is a little off since he's the ILB, with the primary responsibility of the inline TE.  Varied schemes and coverage can be an outlier in responsibility.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

7 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Yes, on the contract details.  I'm confused on your concern with this signing.  He's our leading tackler and covers the area you say he's too slow for.

As far as Edmunds is concerned; I would bring him in for a pay cut or outright cut.  He quit on the team last year, so that showed the football world his character.

The talk is to move Edward's to Mike and Edmunds to Will.  Edmunds may not like it, but his size and athleticism are better for coverage (that Will LBs do more in Allen's D).  As for drafting someone high to be the 3rd LB to replace Sanborn, it's not a priority in a D that is in Nickel 60%.  They will use a 7th rd pick to get a backer like Nick Martin, Oklahoma St who can blitz.  Kyler Gordon will see more time on the field being that CB/S/LB making plays like CJ Gardner-Johnson.

[Mongo3451]

19 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

The talk is to move Edward's to Mike and Edmunds to Will.  Edmunds may not like it, but his size and athleticism are better for coverage (that Will LBs do more in Allen's D).  As for drafting someone high to be the 3rd LB to replace Sanborn, it's not a priority in a D that is in Nickel 60%.  They will use a 7th rd pick to get a backer like Nick Martin, Oklahoma St who can blitz.  Kyler Gordon will see more time on the field being that CB/S/LB making plays like CJ Gardner-Johnson.

I'd like to read the article.  Do you have source or link?

[ASHKUM BEAR]

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I'd like to read the article.  Do you have source or link?

It was talked about on the score this afternoon. Not sure if Clay Harbor was in on that but he was on to talk draft. 

[AZ54]

4 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

OLB's aren't meant to cover RB's downfield for very long without safety help. Using Roquan as an example is a little off since he's the ILB, with the primary responsibility of the inline TE.  Varied schemes and coverage can be an outlier in responsibility.

Which in my post I alluded to the fact this contract makes that something I expect Dennis Allen to do with TJ.  

[Stinger226]

11 hours ago, AZ54 said:

For sure we disagree.  I see him chasing from behind when routes go downfield.  Love him within 10 yards of the LOS.  If our pass rush is good enough we don’t have to worry about double moves on routes from RBs then he’s good.  Staying in phase with RBs downfield was something Roquan was good at.  

Are you describing a zone Def? The other teams were targeting the gap in the zone where the underneath guy passed responsbity to the down field zones. We are predominantly man this year and I expect the underneath players to engage WRs right away instead of letting WRs get to  their routes. More aggressive,

[BearFan PHX]

I dont think we will be predominantly man this year? I just think we will have all kinds of looks, cover 2 and cover 3 are complimentary when you go back and forth. if they call a play to get the seam in cover 2 for example, in cover 3 theres a guy right there. I think its about mixing it up and bringing pressure more than just pure man and blitzing every down. i expect hybrids too. the good teams run those and they may not be fully sound but theyre confusing as hell

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

I dont think we will be predominantly man this year? I just think we will have all kinds of looks, cover 2 and cover 3 are complimentary when you go back and forth. if they call a play to get the seam in cover 2 for example, in cover 3 theres a guy right there. I think its about mixing it up and bringing pressure more than just pure man and blitzing every down. i expect hybrids too. the good teams run those and they may not be fully sound but theyre confusing as hell

Of course they will mix coverages but I read somewhere DA runs 70% man. I'll try to find the article.

[BearFan PHX]

5 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Of course they will mix coverages but I read somewhere DA runs 70% man. I'll try to find the article.

yeah, please do I had no idea!

[DABEARSDABOMB]

Solid 2 year deal.