CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have agreed to let linebacker Tremaine Edmunds seek a trade, agent Todd France said Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Edmunds is entering the final season of a four-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2023 and could be released if he doesn’t find a trade partner. He has a $17.4 million salary cap hit for next season, but the Bears would save $15 million in cap space by letting him go before the start of the league year next month. The Chicago Tribune first reported the Bears have agreed to allow Edmunds to seek a trade.

Edmunds helped the Bears go from worst to first in the NFC North. He led the team with 112 tackles despite missing four games with a groin injury and had four interceptions.

Chicago went 11-6 and won its first division title since 2018 after finishing last in the NFC North the previous season. The Bears advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, rallying to beat Green Bay in a wild-card thriller before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.

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