Combine week marks the unofficial kickoff to the NFL offseason, and the Chicago Bears are already making moves. The big news?
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has been given the green light to explore trade options. While it's uncertain what the Bears might get in return, Edmunds' improved second season in Chicago suggests he still holds some trade value.
If a deal doesn't materialize, a release could be on the horizon. Several teams could benefit from a player of Edmunds' caliber.
As Edmunds' chapter with the Bears draws to a close, the focus shifts to who will step up in his place. D'Marco Jackson is a promising internal candidate, having impressed during Edmunds' absence last season. However, Jackson's status as a free agent adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
The draft offers a cost-effective route for the Bears to find Edmunds' successor. Enter Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, a standout prospect who seems tailor-made for Chicago.
Rodriguez turned heads by finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, a rarity for a defensive player. He also made history by becoming the third player ever to win the Butkus, Bednarik, and Nagurski awards in the same season.
Rodriguez's stats from his breakout 2024 season are eye-popping: 127 tackles, five sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, an interception, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He elevated his game even further last season with 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions, a nation-leading seven forced fumbles, six pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. According to NFL Research, Rodriguez is the first FBS player since at least 2005 to notch seven or more forced fumbles and four or more interceptions in a single season.
Rodriguez met with the Bears at the Senior Bowl and again at the NFL Combine, expressing a strong connection with the team's core values. "They're great," Rodriguez shared. "A lot of their core pillars align with everything I believe in."
A master of the "Peanut Punch," a technique popularized by former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, Rodriguez recently crossed paths with Tillman during his pre-draft training. He looks forward to reconnecting with the Bears' legend in Indianapolis.
The Bears have a storied tradition of ball-hawking defenses and legendary linebackers, a legacy that’s been lacking since Brian Urlacher's retirement. Rodriguez seems eager to carry that torch, and with an opening now available, he might just get his chance.