The Chicago Bears made sure to leave their mark as they signed guard Nate Davis and linebacker duo Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards on Monday.
The NFL’s legal tampering period began at 11am CT (4pm GMT) on Monday. Ahead of free agency beginning, the NFL legal tampering period opens to allow teams to get a head start on negotiating with players as teams have the right to discuss ‘all aspects of an NFL player contract’ without actually signing a deal.
Nothing can be made official during the tampering period but both teams and players can agree deals before signing and confirming them once the new league year begins – and the Bears wasted no time in agreeing three huge deals. The biggest splash came in the form of Edmunds, who left the Buffalo Bills for the bears on a front-loaded four-year deal worth $72million with $50m guaranteed.
Edmunds will be just 25 when the 2023 season begins and he is a solid run defender who significantly improved in coverage last year. Edmunds totalled 102 tackles, including six for a loss, one sack, seven pass breakups and three quarterback hits with the Bills during the 2022 campaign.
The Bears also agreed to deals with former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Edwards as well as Davis, who left the Titans, after Chicago entered free agency with more than $100m in salary cap space. Edwards signed on a three-year contract worth $19.5m, while Davis inked a three-year deal worth $30m.
With the additions of Edmunds and Edwards joining a promising second-year player in Jack Sanborn, the Bears have one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL. Meanwhile, the offensive line will be vastly improved by the acquisition of Davis as quarterback Justin Fields will be better protected in 2023.
