The Chicago Bears, armed with a clear mandate for change from their top decision-makers, are poised to make significant financial and personnel moves in the coming weeks. General Manager Ryan Poles and Head Coach Ben Johnson have signaled that “big decisions are coming” for a roster currently operating with minimal salary cap flexibility. With roughly $3.5 million in space, well short of what’s needed to sign a draft class, the front office must create room, placing several veteran contracts under intense scrutiny.
All eyes are fixed on linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, whose future in Chicago appears increasingly tenuous. The former high-priced free agent acquisition is entering the final year of a four-year, $72 million deal and carries a cap hit exceeding $17 million for 2026. Releasing him would save the franchise approximately $15 million, a compelling figure for a player whose performance has not consistently matched his paycheck. Edmunds started the 2025 season strongly before an injury derailed his momentum, leading to an inconsistent finish.
While a significant pay cut could facilitate his return, the prevailing expectation is that the Bears will seek more speed and athleticism at the linebacker position, making Edmunds a prime cap casualty. His departure would mark a stark admission that the major investment from the 2024 offseason did not yield the expected defensive cornerstone. The move would also allow the team to reallocate resources toward other pressing needs on a defense being reshaped by coordinator Dennis Allen.
Tight end Cole Kmet presents a more complex case, classified as a cut candidate purely from a financial perspective but unlikely to be released. Kmet’s cap hit surpasses $11 million, and cutting him could save up to $10 million post-June 1. However, he remains a valued piece in Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, which heavily utilizes multiple tight end sets. The more probable outcome is a team-friendly contract extension or restructure, which could still create over $7 million in cap relief while keeping a reliable veteran alongside star Cole Lovelain.
In the backfield, running back DeAndre Swift has complicated the decision matrix with a career year in 2025. After speculation he might be a one-year rental, Swift rushed for over 1,000 yards and tallied nearly 1,400 all-purpose yards, providing explosive playmaking. Cutting him would save $7.5 million, but his $8.8 million cap charge is now considered reasonable value for his production. With greater needs elsewhere, the Bears are expected to retain Swift for the final year of his deal, maintaining his dynamic tandem with Khalil Herbert.
Further down the roster, the Bears may part ways with players whose time has simply run out. Running back Roschon Johnson, a once-promising fourth-round pick, has struggled to stay healthy and would save only $1.1 million if released. His physical running style has led to recurring concussion issues, and the team appears ready to find a new, more durable option as its third-string back, potentially from the draft or a low-cost free agent.
Offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, a 2024 third-round selection, also faces an uncertain future after two injury-plagued and unproductive seasons. Drafted while recovering from an injury, his rehab extended longer than anticipated, and he failed to secure a role when healthy. While the lack of proven depth at tackle grants him a slim chance to compete, he will have to fight for a roster spot and is not guaranteed a place on the 53-man roster come September.
The team does possess other large contracts that could theoretically be moved, but such actions are considered long shots. Defensive lineman Montez Sweat and cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson are viewed as core pieces, though contract restructures for Sweat and Johnson could be tools to create additional cap space. Their releases would incur substantial dead money and create new holes on a defense already in transition.
As the NFL’s legal tampering period approaches, the Bears’ strategy is coming into focus. The release of Tremaine Edmunds stands as the most impactful and likely move, a financial necessity that also aligns with a philosophical shift on defense. Other cuts will be about optimizing value and reshaping the back end of the roster, giving Poles and Johnson the capital required to be active participants in free agency and build a team in their desired image. The winds of change are blowing through Halas Hall, and several familiar faces are unlikely to survive the gust.
