Source - Bears give LB Tremaine Edmunds $72 million contract

The Chicago Bears are giving Buffalo Bills free agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds a four-year, $72 million contract that includes $50 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

It is the largest four-year contract for an inside linebacker in the NFL.

Edmunds is the second starting linebacker added by the Bears on Monday. Earlier in the day, the Bears agreed to a three-year contract with Philadelphia Eagles free-agent T.J. Edwards worth $19.5 million, including $12 million in guaranteed money, a source told ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

The Bears also made a move to bolster their offensive line, agreeing to a three-year contract with Tennessee Titans free agent guard Nate Davis, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network.

Over Edmunds' five years with the Bills, the linebacker has developed into one of the defense's leaders and key players. He has been a starter from the jump, starting all 74 regular season games and eight postseason games he has played.

The 16th overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft — after the Bills traded up to select quarterback Josh Allen at No. 7 — out of Virginia Tech, Edmunds will turn just 25 years old in May despite already playing five NFL seasons.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection has had 100-plus tackles every season he has played. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has spoken about wanting to see Edmunds make more splash plays. Edmunds has 5 career interceptions, 35 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles and 6.5 sacks.

Edmunds has improved in pass coverage, with his route awareness and ability to get to depth as a zone defender. He's a long, 6-foot-5 linebacker with downhill acceleration against the run and second-level range to track the ball.

In 2022, he played in 13