Bears Defense Gets An Upgrade By Obtaining Edge Rusher Sweat

CHICAGO — If the Chicago Bears were looking to upgrade a defensive line that has struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season, they may have gotten their wish ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

The Bears announced on Tuesday afternoon that they will send a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Washington Commanders in exchange for defensive end Montez Sweat. Sweat, who has registered 32 tackles, 6 ½ sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles this season for the Commanders, will be a welcomed addition to a defense looking for someone to bring added pressure up front and that ranks last in the NFL in sacks.

“Montez is a huge addition to our team,” general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement released by the team on Tuesday. “He is not is not only a great player but a great person. We expect him to help elevate our defense.”

Sweat, a 6-6, 262-pounder, has appeared in 67 games (67 starts) across five seasons after originally being selected by the Commanders in 2019. Currently in his fifth NFL season, Sweat’s career numbers include 197 tackles (120 solo), 35 1/2 sacks, 85 quarterback hurries, 47 tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed, and nine forced fumbles.

This is the second straight year the Bears have made a deadline day deal after sending a second-round draft pick to Pittsburgh last year for wide receiver Chase Claypool. The Bears traded Claypool to Miami earlier this year after the veteran wide receiver turned out to be a bust and was eventually asked not to show up for work by coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles for a lack of effort.

Sweat, meanwhile, comes to the Bears, who have only registered 10 sacks as a team in eight games this year and are coming off a disastrous effort in a prime-time loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, who defeated the Bears 30-13 on Sunday Night Football.

Sweat is in the final year of his contract and the Bears have plenty of room under the salary cap for next season, which could put the 27-year-old edge rusher in line for a contract extension in Chicago. Sweat is considered Washington’s most consistent edge rusher while his teammate Chase Young has been sidelined with a knee injury before returning this year.

Reports suggested that the Bears were interested in Young, but there were long-term concerns about the former first-round draft pick’s stability moving forward. That shifted Chicago’s interest for Sweat, a former first-round pick in 2019 out of Mississippi State.

The Bears' defense may not be done changing, however, after cornerback Jaylon Johnson — who had two interceptions in Chicago’s win over the Los Angeles Raiders —has reportedly asked for a trade ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s trade deadline.

However, the Bears didn't move Johnson before the 3 p.m. deadline, keeping the team's secondary in tact.