It’s Time To Have An Uncomfortable Talk About Montez Sweat

It is one thing if your team doesn’t have enough depth at certain positions. It is another when your high-priced players aren’t earning their money. For the Chicago Bears, those crosshairs fall squarely on Montez Sweat. Since week 13 of last season, the veteran defensive end has one sack. That means one sack in eight games after again getting blanked by the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He’s making $25 million this year. The Bears paid him to be their primary rusher, and he has looked nothing like that for the equivalent of half a season.

People have tried making excuses, stating he doesn’t have much help around him. That feels like a weaker excuse than ever. Gervon Dexter is a good player, and Dayo Odeyingbo had a strong first game. He’s not nobody. The truth is, Sweat has just lost his juice. There is no other explanation except maybe healthy, but he hasn’t popped up on the injury report once since this year began. If this trend continues, the Bears will have to make some hard decisions about what to do with him.

Montez Sweat can’t be cut next year, but could be traded.

If the Bears were to deal the defensive end elsewhere, they would secure $16.9 million in cap space. Finding a team willing to take on the contract will be the tricky part. He has two years left at $25 million a pop. It would probably have to be a team with considerable cap space. The Chargers, Raiders, Titans, and, ironically, the Commanders all have the wiggle room to make something happen. Montez Sweat felt like a great investment after his 2023 season. He was dominant for large stretches and looked like a difference-maker. It feels like all the air got sucked out of him after last Thanksgiving. He hasn’t found his footing ever since. The Bears can’t wait on him forever. Their pass rush is a wreck right now, and he is crucial to getting it going. It might be time for a change if this trend doesn’t reverse in the next few months.