The Chicago Bears still have money to spend. Not only do they have money to spend, they still have money they need to spend. Every team has a spending floor, and because Ryan Poles shed so many hefty salaries during his first year, the Bears were below that floor and have to spend money before the 2024 league year starts next March. That meant the Bears were either going to have to sign an edge during August (which still could happen) and/or extend multiple players on their current roster.
Poles started off the spending by giving Cole Kmet a 4-year contract extension worth $50 million.