The Chicago Bears added one of the better pass rushers in the league via trade on Tuesday.
The Bears acquired Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat in exchange for a 2024 2nd-round pick. In Sweat, the Bears get a player they have been sorely lacking: an explosive, rangy pass rusher who knows how to get to the quarterback. Chicago is currently last in the NFL as a team in sacks, having only 10 so far this season.
Since being drafted in the first round by Washington in 2019, Sweat has amassed 35 sacks in his five-year career. He already has 6.5 sacks this season and is on pace to post double digits in that category, a statistical benchmark for elite pass rushers.
Despite the apparent need for a proven pass rusher, not everyone applauded the trade for Sweat.
Chicago gave up a premium 2nd round draft selection for a player they will eventually have to pay in the offseason. Here’s why that matters: The Bears are far from contention for a Super Bowl and need as much draft capital to acquire more talent for their team. Having that second-rounder gives them more flexibility to move up in the 2024 Draft to select a quarterback or another premium player if needed.
What the Bears did was make a move that a contending team would make: add a talented player to increase its odds of making it to the Super Bowl. With the Bears currently last in their division at 2-6, it would take a miracle for them to even make it to the playoffs.
Adding insult to injury, the Commanders dealt Sweat’s teammate Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick in return. With a winning record and a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl, the 49ers got a similarly talented player at the same position as Sweat for less value.
Moreover, once Sweat hits free agency in the offseason, they will have two choices: pay him or lose him for nothing.
Nevertheless, players like Sweat are hard to come by in the NFL. And the Bears got them a good player who will likely help in the short term.
Bears Fire Running Backs Coach Over Workplace Conduct
On Wednesday morning, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced that the team fired running backs coach David Walker, citing his behavior in the workplace.
According to ESPN, Walker had received a prior reprimand from the Bears’ human resources department due to workplace conduct, and a subsequent incident of a similar nature resulted in his termination.
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