Bears sign LB Tremaine Edmunds to replace Roquan Smith

Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds tries to make a tackle in January. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

General manager Ryan Poles’ decision to trade Roquan Smith on Halloween came at the confluence of what the Bears and the linebacker each wanted. Smith wanted an annual salary of about $20 million per season, and the Bears wanted a weak-side linebacker who could take the ball away.

“We covet ball production in that position,” head coach Matt Eberflus said two days after the Bears dealt Smith to the Ravens for a second-round pick. “So that right there is a very important thing that a ‘Will’ linebacker needs to do.”