Commanders Trade Grade: Did Washington Make Good Deal For DE Montez Sweat?

The Washington Commanders traded Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline.

After rumors of Montez Sweat being on the move, it finally came to fruition hours before the NFL Trade Deadline on Tuesday when the Washington Commanders traded him to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 second round pick. 

Sweat, who was taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by Washington, was the team's leading pass rusher through eight games with 6.5 sacks. Across his five year career in Washington he had 35.5 sacks, 47 tackles for loss and 85 quarterback hits. 

With Sweat set to become a free agent and Washington starting the season 3-5, the writing was on the wall. But is it a good deal for both teams? Here are grades for the two teams involved.

Montez Sweat leads the Washington Commanders with 6.5 sacks / Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears: Acquired Montez Sweat

It'd be fair to say that this addressed a key need for the Bears, but they quite literally need everything on defense. They've allowed 27.3 points per game, the fourth most in the NFL and no player on their roster has more than two sacks. 

Sweat not only steps in as the top edge-rusher they've been missing, but they'll have a chance to sign him to a long-term deal. 

Giving up a second round pick, especially an early one seems like a lot, but the Bears are loaded with picks after trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers, including two first round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft that are each currently projected to be in the top five. 

As long as the Bears can sign Sweat to a long-term deal, this is a good deal for the present and future for a franchise in desperate need of difference makers on both sides of the ball.  

Grade: B+

Washington Commanders: Acquired 2024 second round pick

The Commanders are staring a rebuild dead in the face and this move was a big step in that direction.

Washington isn't just getting a second round pick, they'll have three picks in the top 40 of the 2024 NFL Draft as things presently stand. For any franchise looking to rebuild its foundation and potentially give an incoming general manager and head coach proper draft ammunition to make the team in their image. 

With three picks in the top 40, the Commanders could land three really good players, or they can package their picks to land one or two guys that can reshape the franchise. 

With the Commanders' playoff hopes looking bleak and no guarantee that they'd be able to re-sign Sweat after the season, this was a deal that they had to make. As long as Washington can land difference makers for its franchise, this could be a trade that helps expedite the inevitable rebuild they'll undergo and would bump this grade to an A+.

Grade: A-