NEWSLETTER
Let’s get this stuff out of the way at the top because I’m sure it is on your mind.
I’ll admit I had my concerns about the Montez Sweat trade when it went down. Having concerns is normal. This is the Bears after all and every move they make is going to get put under the BN microscope. It’s called being thorough. I also had questions about the extension handed to Sweat. Questioning things the Bears do is normal, too. I’d be worried about this fan base if it didn’t look at every transaction with a critical eye.
With that being said, the Montez Sweat trade has been a hit. Not just a hit, a home run. And not just a home run, the kind of dong blast that comes with a bat flip that shows up on SportsCenter’s top-10 plays and enrages opposing managers and fans to no end. Yes, Sweat has been *THAT* good since joining the Bears.
Montez Sweat has been a welcome addition to the Bears
These are Montez Sweat’s numbers in five games since joining the Bears:
Sweat’s sack of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff brought him to 10 in 13 games played for the Bears and Washington Commanders this season. Sack No. 10 marks a career-high for Sweat, whose previous career-best was 9 back in 2020. He’ll get a chance to add to that total in the Bears’ upcoming games against the Browns, Cardinals, Falcons, and Packers. Joe Flacco, Kyler Murray, Desmond Ridder, and Jordan Love better have their heads on a swivel. Because even if Sweat doesn’t get home with a sack, his 10 quarterback hits in five games with Chicago suggests he’ll harass you even if he can’t sack you.
For the sake of fun, here are Sweat’s numbers with the Bears extrapolated over 17 games:
Hoo boy. The early returns on the Sweat trade have been great for the Bears. But putting his numbers in a calculator and cooking up what it could look like over 17 games is dreamy.
MORE: Inside Montez Sweat’s Bears Extension: Contract Details, Market Value, Jaylon Impact, More
The Bears are better with Montez Sweat
In addition to all that, Chicago’s football team has been quantifiably better since acquiring Sweat. This tweet from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport blew my mind:
From an eye-test’s perspective, I’d say that the Bears’ defense looks better with Sweat. If you allow yourself to focus on the defensive line, you can see how Sweat goes about his business and how his presence opens things up for others. When coaches talk about wanting their teams to play complimentary football, the Montez Sweat effect is what they envision. Because Sweat’s presence and production appear to have unlocked the rest of the defensive line.
Some notable players on an upswing since Sweat’s arrival:
CHECK IT OUT: Montez Sweat’s Bears Career is Off to a Great Start
And that just begins to underscore the trickle-down impact Sweat has had on the Bears. Since Sweat’s arrival, linebackers such as T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jack Sanborn have been popping off with splash plays. Defensive backs like Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, and Jaquan Brisker are capitalizing on pressure by Sweat and a rejuvenated front seven with pass breakups and interceptions. The Bears look better as a team. And Matt Eberflus looks smarter as a defensive play caller. This is what his defense is supposed to look like. And it all starts up front with the Sweat addition.
This has been a Montez Sweat appreciation post. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed watching him play as a member of the Chicago Bears.
