With Edmunds gone and injuries mounting, Alex Anzalone emerges as a cost-effective, proven veteran ready to fill the Bears' linebacker void.
The Chicago Bears have made a few moves this offseason to free up cap space.
Before they even made the first move, center Drew Dalman announced his retirement from football after five seasons in the NFL. Dalman reached the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Bears and spent the first four years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons.
However, because Dalman retired, his salary will be forfeited, giving the team $10 million in cap space.
Then, the Bears traded receiver D.J. Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick. That move gave the Bears $16.5 million in cap space.
Chicago made one last move on Thursday night, releasing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, which gave the franchise $15 million. It was initially believed that the Bears were going to try to find a trade for Edmunds to gain some draft capital, but the team decided it was better to cut him instead.
Now with Edmunds gone, the Bears have a rather massive hole at linebacker. Along with Edmunds leaving the franchise, both T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell sustained injuries late in the 2025 season.
Edwards suffered a fractured fibula in the Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers, and Sewell had an Achilles injury that he sustained in Week 17.
It's become clear that Chicago needs to figure out a plan at linebacker for 2026, and the Detroit Lions could help with that.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler called Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone a name to watch for the Bears. Anzalone is set to hit free agency and has a market value of $7.3 million, via Spotrac.
Anzalone would be a great player to replace Edmunds, and not only because he is a considerably cheaper option.
He's finished with 100 total tackles twice in his career and has been reliable in coverage, which was an underrated aspect of Edmunds' game. Edmunds finished with four interceptions last season.
Anzalone had 95 total tackles, four TFLs, 2.5 sacks and one interception in 2025.
Plus, Anzalone is already familiar with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. The two overlapped with one another at the New Orleans Saints from 2017-20.
Not to mention, Anzalone has been around Ben Johnson before, when the Bears head coach was the Lions' offensive coordinator from 2022-24.
The Bears need another veteran presence in their linebacker room. After looking at the numbers, it appears that Anzalone is a budget Tremaine Edmunds that could mimic his level of production for less.
The familiarity with Johnson and Allen is a massive plus, and the Bears wouldn't have to commit to a long-term deal, most likely, since Anzalone is 31 years old.
This move could be just what the Bears need after the unfortunate injuries to Edwards and Sewell late in the year.