The Chicago Bears made a curious trade midway through the 2023 season when they acquired edge rusher Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders.
The move didn’t make sense considering Sweat was an impending free agent until the Bears then gave him a lucrative contract extension.
Sweat ended up finishing the year with 12.5 sacks – six of which were after he joined the Bears.
While Sweat was always a good defensive end, he said that getting an extension helped him become a better player because he didn’t have to worry about money anymore.
“Yeah, just like any athlete who wants to get paid and get that money secured, it was a big relief,” Sweat said. “I think it allowed me to play more free and more loose.”
The Bears’ defense became a force to be reckoned with in the second-half of the season thanks to the installation of Sweat this year, and he figures to be a focal point of the team in 2024 and beyond.
Montez Sweat: Extension allowed me to play freer and looser with Bears. https://t.co/1fIONJZOld
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 3, 2024
The biggest issue for Chicago, now, is the offense and what they’ll do at quarterback.
All signs point to the Bears moving on from Justin Fields and drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, whether that’ll be USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
The team also hired Shane Waldron to be the new offensive coordinator, which could also indicate an interest in switching up the offense in 2024.
At the very least, the defense is looking good with Sweat in tow, and he’s feeling confident after securing his long-term contract.
