Amen Ogbongbemiga Is Bears’ First Cap Casualty — And How It Sends A Clear Message
The Chicago Bears must get under the salary cap before the start of the new league year next month. They usually start the payroll scrubbing right around this time. Sure enough, their first notable cap-clearing move came down. Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga was released on Thursday. It was a somewhat unexpected move. While it does net the Bears $2 million in space, this was somebody considered one of their better special teams players. Yet it appears the team is shifting in a different direction.
Money aside, this feels like an indicator of a wider plan. It’s been speculated and rumored that Chicago has big changes planned for their linebacker group. Expectations are growing that they will release veteran Tremaine Edmunds, netting $15 million in cap space. They’d also like to escape T.J. Edwards’ deal after his injury-marred 2025 season. Unfortunately, the doesn’t seem plausible. Noah Sewell is a free agent. Suffice to say, it looks like the team is committed to reshaping the linebacker group in line with Dennis Allen’s vision.
Ogbongbemiga, unfortunately, was a holdover from the Matt Eberflus era.
Amen Ogbonbemiga shouldn’t feel bad.
Allen has done this before. He had three starting linebackers in his first year with the New Orleans Saints in 2015. By the start of the following season in 2016, all three had been replaced. He has a specific preference for the position, one predicated on speed and instincts. The current Bears’ lineup, aside from Edmunds, doesn’t fit that category. Edmunds would probably stay if his contract weren’t such an issue. Ruben Hyppolite was the first indication last year that Allen wants to infuse his defense with more speed.
Cutting Amen Ogbongbemiga was merely another step in that process. Early projections indicate the upcoming 2026 NFL draft is rich with linebacker talent. The Bears may look to add somebody in the first three rounds, starting the foundation for the next generation. It is also highly probable that they look to retain D’Marco Jackson. He was terrific in relief of Edmunds last season and shouldn’t be too expensive to bring back. From there, it becomes a question of when they strike in the draft.
The Bears could end a surprising streak this April.
Few organizations have been stronger investors in the linebacker position over the course of their existence than the Bears. Since the draft began in 1936, they have spent six 1st round picks and seven 2nd round picks on linebackers. It’s hard to argue with that approach since it led to four eventual Hall of Famers. However, Chicago has hit a dry spell in recent years. After selecting Roquan Smith in the 1st round in 2018, the Bears have not picked anybody higher than the 4th round since.
This is likely because GM Ryan Poles came from Kansas City. The Chiefs didn’t place a premium on linebackers during his rise up the scouting ranks. They only drafted them in the 2nd round or higher twice from 2009 through 2021. Yet with several spots coming open and the need for two starters, he’ll have to strike early this time. While the 1st round is unlikely, the 2nd might be the sweet spot.