Former Buffalo Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds left a perennial contender for a Chicago Bears team in rebuilding and seems content with his decision.
Compared to most teams in the NFL, the Chicago Bears are a clear notch below the elite. But that doesn't mean it has to stay that way.
This offseason, the franchise looked at the free agent pool and decided to tip their feet in the water. They did a splash with their linebacker core, signing TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. They also made a big trade, dealing away the No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for a bevy of picks and wide receiver DJ Moore.
It all sounds well and good, especially when Edmunds said what he said recently about embracing a role in the Chicago Bears rebuild.
"I was just excited for the opportunity, man," Edmunds said on Wednesday during an appearance on NFL Total Access. "I'm a guy, I like when the odds are against me, I like when the odds are against us. I feel like individuals make the best moves when you're underestimated, and I wanted to go to a team where I could be part of a rebuild. I can be part of turning this thing around, man. It's just about knowing there are going to be some thunderstorms sometimes, but you gotta be able to stand through those thunderstorms sometimes long enough to stand through some sunshine one day. Just being a part of that and being a big part of that defense and being a big part of that rebuild, it made me want to be a part of it, for sure."
Bears made a wise investment in linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, but their journey is far from complete
Many will say the money talks, as Edmunds signed a four-year deal for over $70 million this offseason, but in retrospect, it's a relatively fair deal, and given how the Bears needed to add a linebacker to their team, the decision was calculated.
Thankfully for the Bears, all their decisions this offseason were focused on getting faster and younger, almost the opposite of what Ryan Pace tried to do. It is a bit of a surprise that Edmunds opted to leave Buffalo, given how they are a perennial Super Bowl contender and how the Bears aren't even close to being one yet.
Still, whatever decision Edmunds chose to make is his own. It now comes down to whether or not the Bears show that the investment wasn't just a public relations hit but rather a hit in terms of their product on the field. The season can't get here fast enough.