For those holding onto that last shred of hope that Buffalo Bills inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds would come to Pittsburgh, it’s gone. Edmunds is signing with the Chicago Bears, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s a four-year deal worth $72 million, one of the largest off-ball linebacker deals in NFL history.
Edmunds was one of this year’s top free agents. Not turning 25 until May. even after five years in Buffalo, Edmunds has recorded 100-plus tackles in each year of his NFL career. A first-round pick in 2018, he’s recorded 565 career tackles with 6.5 sacks and five interceptions. A terrific athlete who can play the run and cover, he was expected to be in high demand and agrees to a deal on the first day of the legal tampering period. Barring any change of heart, the deal will become official Wednesday.
Edmunds is the younger brother of Trey and Terrell Edmunds, both of whom have been Steelers. Trey was a RB/FB and special teamer for a handful of seasons while Terrell has been the team’s starting strong safety since 2018, also a first round pick the same year Tremaine was selected.
Though Terrell once joked about trying to bring his brother to Pittsburgh, it was never a realistic option. The Steelers will try to retain Terrell, also a pending free agent, and there’s no guarantee he returns. Perhaps he’ll follow his brother to Chicago, a team that has been happy to spend, also reportedly agreeing to terms with OG Nate Davis and LB T.J. Edwards on three-year deals.
The Steelers have had a quiet start to the unofficial period of free agency, losing CB Cam Sutton to the Detroit Lions and signing/re-signing no one. Expect things to pick up over the next 24 to 48 hours.
