The Green Bay Packers have a need at linebacker, though it's not as pressing as at cornerback or the offensive line. Still, Quay Walker's likely departure would leave a hole in the middle of the defense, one that Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie might not be able to cover by themselves. They could address their needs via the draft, which promises a deep linebacker class, but they could also dabble in free agency.
Following his release by the Chicago Bears, Tremaine Edmunds is one name immediately available, and he might seem like someone the Packers should monitor. He is an established producer, after all, a two-time Pro Bowler. Signing Edmunds wouldn't interfere with any compensatory picks Green Bay has coming from departing free agents.
In reality, he is far more appealing on paper than in practice as a Walker replacement. His poor work in pass coverage would present a familiar problem after Walker struggled in that department, too, frustrating Packers fans to no end.
Now they would be bringing in an older player with the same weakness. While there are other concerns, that's one obvious reason Green Bay should nip any Edmunds interest in the bud.
Quay Walker's pass coverage gave the Packers a headache that Tremaine Edmunds won't solve
Plenty of Bears fans would tell you not to be fooled by Edmunds' passer rating allowed. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked 11th among linebackers with a mark of 87.2. Walker was all the way down at 14th-worst (120.8).
Edmunds' overall coverage grade, however, though better than Walker's, clocked in at only 52.1, which falls in the bottom 33 percent. A big reason for that is a high completion rate on throws in his vicinity (76.3 percent, according to Pro Football Reference). Like their rivals in Green Bay, Bears fans tore their hair out watching Edmunds lag behind receivers, too slow to keep up.
Although he will only turn 28 in May, entering his ninth NFL season, that problem could only get worse. Will Edmunds be better given a clean bill of health? That's quite possible, but it's also possible that injuries will plague him further after he tied a career-high with four absences in 2025.
Despite those concerns, even after his release, Edmunds should command significantly more money than a rookie linebacker in the draft. Spotrac projects his next contract at two years, $20.9 million. Instead of paying Edmunds, the Packers can always see what Ty'Ron Hopper brings in year three. Or, they could reunite with Eric Wilson for a fraction of the cost.
In fairness, Edmunds does two things Walker doesn't: defend the run and create turnovers (four interceptions last year, 14 in his career). That said, he is also not the same force in the pass rush. Pro Football Reference credits Walker with more career sacks (nine) than Edmunds has (8.5) in over double the games played. He is quite close in pressures, compiling 32 to Edmunds' 37.
Now five years removed from his last Pro Bowl, the latter is what he is. While that includes being a tackle machine, recording 100-plus every season, the Packers already have a guy for that in Isaiah McDuffie.
What they need is depth and flexibility, not a discarded Chicago Bear on the decline, who won't help cure Green Bay's headache in linebacker pass coverage.