Washington Commanders Trade DE Montez Sweat to Chicago Bears

The Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears have agreed to a deal that sends defensive end Montez Sweat to Chicago in exchange for a second round pick, according to multiple reports.

Sweat is in the final season of his four-year contract. The Commanders (3-5) recently extended defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne with a 4-year, $72 million and a 4-year, $90 million contracts, respectively. This likely led to the decision to not extend Sweat.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bears (2-5) are expected to have the league's highest available cap space this offseason with $110 million, and would be able to extend Sweat when his contract his up.

Sweat was selected No. 27 overall by Washington in the 2019 NFL Draft and was an immediate starter. Sweat is tied for eighth in the league with 6.5 sacks this season. He has recorded 35.5 sacks throughout his career, including a high of nine in 2020.

The fifth-year starter joins a Chicago defensive line that ranks last in the league with 10 total sacks as a team.

Coming off a 30-13 Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bears will travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints this Sunday.