Chicago Bears starter questioned before ‘Monday Night Game’

The Chicago Bears are coming off their bye week a little healthier and hopefully more comfortable with the scheme of the new coaching staff. The Bears have a chance to go above .500 with a win over the Washington Commanders on “Monday Night Football.”

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One area the Bears need to key in on against the Commanders is the pass rush. Through the first four games, Chicago has created five sacks.

Creating 1.25 sacks per game is not a recipe for postseason success. It’s also not what Bears general manager Ryan Poles had in mind when he traded with the Commanders for Montez Sweat in 2023.

Chicago Bears DE Montez Sweat questioned

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Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune questioned if the trade for Sweat was worth it in retrospect, as the defensive end has not been super impactful as a pass-rusher since 2023.

“Since the beginning of the 2024 season, Sweat has 6½ sacks and 15 QB hits. In that span, 68 players have more sacks and 69 have more QB hits,” Biggs wrote. “Myriad issues are in play and worth exploring, but production has not matched the four-year, $98 million extension the Bears signed Sweat to after completing the trade that sent a second-round pick to the Commanders.

“Even after a slew of pay days for elite edge rushers, Sweat’s deal with an annual average salary of $24.5 million ranks 11th in the league. At the time the Bears paid Sweat to make him the centerpiece of the defense — if not the roster — he was the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid edge rusher.”

The Bears haven’t given Sweat much help

In Sweat’s defense, the Bears have not put a quality pass-rusher alongside him for 2024 and 2025. Frankly, the help he’s gotten at defensive tackle has been average at best.

Sweat has seen plenty of double-team and chip work in Chicago. That’s what every opposing team should do until the Bears can find a way to generate a pass-rush from somewhere else.

Sweat hasn’t been an elite defensive end since arriving in Chicago. But he would be a lot better if Poles invested in adding another big-time playmaker on the defensive line.

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