Commanders Trade DE Montez Sweat to Bears for 2nd-Round Pick

The star pass rusher is heading from Washington to Chicago in return for a Day 2 selection.

The Washington Commanders are trading star pass rusher Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears, per multiple reports.

It's a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft heading back to Washington in return for Sweat, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Sweat is on the final year of his current contract, so the trade to Chicago would indicate the Bears plan on signing him to a long-term extension. Considering they're expected to have the most available salary cap space in the offseason, they'll have more than enough to ink Sweat to the deal he's looking for.

The Bears made tons of big additions last offseason, but the one position they didn't address in a big way was at defensive end, where they lacked a difference-maker off the edge. Sweat certainly fills that need, and gives them a proven playmaker at a premium position instead of just another lottery pick on Day 2 of next year's draft.

For Washington, they're able to add a second-round pick that's sure to be high in the draft order, thanks to Chicago currently having one of the worst records in the league. Considering the fact that Sweat was unlikely to re-sign a long-term deal to stay in Washington in the first place, getting a premium draft pick to help address other needs on the roster is a huge win for the Commanders.

The two sides have been in talks for some time, with both Chase Young and Montez Sweat being among those discussed. In the end, it's Montez Sweat to Chicago. https://t.co/NFxIxw5ako

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2023