Bears begin work on contract extension for Montez Sweat

After acquiring pass rusher Montez Sweat in a trade, speculation about his future began to circulate. The Chicago Bears paid a high price, surrendering a second-round pick for Sweat, indicating their intention to extend his contract. Despite their 2-6 record, the Bears didn’t acquire Sweat for a short-term rental as he is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

Prior to free agency, the Bears have the option to use a franchise or transition tag on Sweat, but their preference is to secure him with a long-term extension as soon as possible. General Manager Ryan Poles expressed the importance of acting swiftly, stating, “If we wait until after the season, we risk losing out on potential opportunities. The landscape of free agency changes rapidly, with various extensions and tags. That’s why we’ve decided to capitalize on Sweat’s talent now.”

Poles further shared his confidence in reaching a deal with Sweat. However, the ball is now in Sweat’s court, as he wants to thoroughly evaluate his options before committing. “I want to consider all aspects of my situation before making a decision,” Sweat explained.

Sweat, a former first-round pick of Washington in the 2019 draft, boasts an impressive 35.5 sacks across 67 games during his five-year career. This season alone, he has amassed 6.5 sacks in eight games, a mere 3.5 sacks shy of the Bears’ collective total as a team.