Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles heads into the 2025 NFL free agency with the sixth-most salary cap space in the league, presenting an excellent opportunity for roster enhancement. To attract top-tier talents like Trey Smith and Drew Dalman, difficult roster decisions loom, particularly concerning recent high-profile acquisitions such as Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards.

Edmunds carries a hefty cap hit of $17.4 million, while cutting him could incur significant dead money unless done post-June 1. In contrast, T.J. Edwards offers a more manageable option with a potential $5.5 million savings upon release. However, letting go of either linebacker risks creating further gaps in an already challenged defense, pushing Poles to evaluate the long-term implications of his decisions carefully.