Even though they were pretty much out of the playoff race, the Chicago Bears pulled off a blockbuster trade for Montez Sweat ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.
Chicago yielded a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Washington Commanders for the former first-round pick from Mississippi State. It then promptly signed him to a four-year, $98 million contract to lock up the stud edge rusher long-term.
Just six games into his career with the Bears, the 27-year-old Sweat could be on the verge of making history. Per Pro Football Focus, he leads Chicago with six sacks in as many games. Sweat is also currently the Commanders’ leading sack-getter with 6.5 in eight games before being dealt to Chicago.
If these numbers hold up, Sweat would become the first player since the NFL officially made sacks a stat to lead two different teams in that category in the same season.
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Montez Sweat stats (2023): 51 tackles, 24 QB hits, 13 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks
Sweat finds himself in the midst of a career-best season as he looks to help Chicago out of the doldrums moving forward.
The Bears were criticized for giving up a second-round pick to acquire an impending free agent. But once the team was able to extend Sweat and with the way he has performed, it sure looks like embattled general manager Ryan Poles has hit a home run.
As for leading two different teams in sacks, Jonathan Allen has 5.5 with three games remaining in the season for Washington. There is a chance that he could surpass Sweat. Interestingly enough, Chase Young is still tied for third on Washington in sacks. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 31, too.