Source: Montez Sweat finalizing 4-year, $98M deal with Bears
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears and Montez Sweat have agreed to a long-term extension prior to the edge rusher’s debut against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Sweat is signing a four-year extension worth $98 million, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Chicago sent a 2024 second-round pick to Washington on Tuesday in exchange for the 27-year-old defensive end, who is playing on the final year of his rookie contract.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Wednesday that the team was currently working on an extension for Sweat and said he felt “really confident” a deal would get done.
Sweat is the second Bears player to receive an extension this week after Chicago gave defensive tackle Andrew Billings a two-year extension worth $8.5 million, with $6 million in guarantees.
Sweat is now the highest paid player on the Bears roster and the NFL’s fifth-highest paid edge rusher at $24.5 million per year.
“We expect him to come here and help our entire team get better,” Poles said Wednesday. “We see him as a long, fast, explosive, relentless defensive end that can help us both in the run and in the pass game and really, I see him as a multiplier. He’s going to allow everyone to play better, our entire defensive front, our corners, our safeties.”
Since being drafted in the first round in 2019, Sweat is one of six players to notch at least five sacks in each of the last five seasons. This season, he has 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and 10 tackles for loss.
Of the Bears’ league-low 10 sacks, only five have come from their defensive ends, along with 13 quarterback hits and 11 tackles for loss combined.
Sweat will make his debut Sunday just five days after joining the Bears. Coach Matt Eberflus discussed the possibility of utilizing the pass rusher in a number of different spots along the defensive line.
“It opens up a lot of things,” Eberflus said. “You can do a lot of things with the caliber of player like he is. And we’ve had some in the past that were like that, that were the premier players like that. We certainly try to enhance it and put them on the matchups that we want, along the line. So that’s important to do.”
Working out a long-term extension for Sweat allows the Bears to preserve their 2024 franchise tag, which the team could use on cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Johnson was granted permission to seek a trade ahead of the NFL’s Oct. 31 deadline after the cornerback and the Bears did not come to an agreement on an extension.
“We are still open to getting a contract done, and I’m going to follow Jaylon’s lead on how he wants to go about doing that,” Poles said.
In a significant move for the Chicago Bears, the team has finalized a four-year, $98 million deal with edge rusher Montez Sweat. The agreement comes just in time for Sweat’s debut against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Bears acquired Sweat from Washington in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick. This extension makes Sweat the highest-paid player on the Bears roster and the NFL’s fifth-highest paid edge rusher at $24.5 million per year.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles expressed confidence in getting a deal done with Sweat earlier in the week. The team had already extended defensive tackle Andrew Billings with a two-year, $8.5 million contract. Poles sees Sweat as a valuable addition to the team, expecting him to improve the entire defense with his speed, explosiveness, and relentlessness.
Sweat has been a consistent performer since being drafted in the first round in 2019. He is one of only six players to record at least five sacks in each of the last five seasons. In the current season, Sweat has already accumulated 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and 10 tackles for loss. The Bears, who have struggled with their pass rush, hope that Sweat’s arrival will provide a much-needed boost to their defensive line.
Coach Matt Eberflus is excited about the possibilities Sweat brings to the team. He believes that Sweat’s caliber as a player allows for various strategies and matchups along the defensive line. Eberflus plans to utilize Sweat’s skills to enhance the team’s pass rush and create favorable situations on the field.
The extension for Sweat also has implications for the Bears’ future plans. By securing a long-term deal for Sweat, the team can preserve their 2024 franchise tag, which they could potentially use on cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Johnson was given permission to seek a trade before the NFL’s October 31 deadline after failing to reach an agreement on an extension with the Bears. Poles remains open to negotiating a contract with Johnson and will follow the cornerback’s lead on how to proceed.
Overall, the Bears’ acquisition of Montez Sweat and his subsequent extension is a significant move that aims to improve the team’s defensive performance. With Sweat’s proven track record and impressive statistics, the Bears hope that he will make an immediate impact on the field. The extension not only solidifies Sweat’s future with the team but also allows the Bears to plan for their long-term roster management.