Bears Invest In Montez Sweat As They Keep Looking For A Pass Rush

Montez Sweat put on a Chicago Bears uniform on Sunday, marking the first time he’d worn the colors of a team other than Washington — the Redskins, the Football Team and the Commanders — since he left Michigan State after the 2018 season. He made a couple of tackles in a 24-17 loss in New Orleans but didn’t get to quarterback Derek Carr.

Bears General Manager Ryan Poles shouldn’t have been too upset. There will be other days. Lots of other days.

Between the time he was traded and his Chicago debut, Sweat agreed to the kind of contract extension he hadn’t been able to get in Washington. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported he has agreed to a four-year deal worth $98 million, with $73 million guaranteed.

Sweat had 6 1/2 sacks in his eight starts with Washington this season and has 35 1/2 for his five-year career. Pro Football Focus gives him a grade that ranks 28th among 107 edge rusher qualifiers.

Sweat’s deal comes in with an average annual value of $24.5 million, which ranks fifth among pass rushers. He replaces wide receiver D.J. Moore as the highest paid Bear while continuing an influx of veterans on a defense that has been one of the NFL’s weakest the last two seasons.

Free agents Tremaine Edmunds, DeMarcus Walker, T.J. Edwards and Yannick Ngakoue agreed to deals in the off-season worth a combined $122.94 million over 11 seasons. Yet Poles still has a lot more money to spend, especially if decides against extended quarterback Justin Fields (or even just exercising his fifth-year option).

Per Spotrac, the Bears are currently positioned to have $66 million available in cap room for 2024, the sixth highest figure in the NFL. That total could grow in excess of $80 million with an increase in the cap limit and a player release or two, with safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair seemingly vulnerable.

Sweat’s signing doesn’t appear to be good news for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who unsuccessfully pursued his own extension both in the off-season and shortly before the trade deadline. The Bears and Johnson appear to be far apart and no longer would have to choose between Johnson and Sweat for a franchise tag.

It would probably cost the Bears about $20 million to use a franchise tag on Johnson. It has been six years since any team used a franchise tag on a cornerback, with the Rams’ Trumaine Johnson the last.

The Bears traded a second-round pick to Washington for Sweat. Poles reportedly was seeking at least a second-rounder in the trade talks for Johnson, who had requested a trade and been given permission to work out a deal on his own.

Poles was apparently motivated to make the major investment in the 27-year-old Sweat because he isn’t impressed with edge rushers in next year’s draft class. The Bears figure to have two high first-rounders, with quarterback and wide receiver the most likely priorities.

The Bears are hoping Sweat’s arrival will spark a second-half resurgence from Ngakoue. He had 9 1/2 sacks for Indianapolis last season and 10 for Las Vegas two years ago but has only two this season. He’s tied for the team lead with Edwards.

Matt Eberflus was hired as Chicago’s head coach because of the success he was having as a defensive coordinator in Indianapolis. But his Bears have been out-sacked 30-10 this year, after a difference of 58-20 last season.

Sweat is expected to change that dynamic. The Bears’ willingness to meet his contract demands means time is now on his side. The team’s 5-21 record under Poles and Eberflus suggests it’s the team’s leaders who need to see some immediate progress.