Ten Most Important Bears Players: Montez Sweat |
For the Bears to reach the level they want to reach this season, it is going to take a total team effort, as all 53 players on this roster will be important. With that being said, some players are going to be more important than others, especially this player, as you could make the case that he is the most important player on this team.
At the very least, he is the most important player on this defense, which is why he checks in as the team's No. 3 most important player, as Montez Sweat is next on the list. It's no secret that Ryan Poles came out of nowhere to make this trade last season, but now that he has, every Bears fan is happy he did, as Sweat dominated in Chicago to earn a long-term extension. Not only did he dominate in Chicago, but Sweat made NFL history last season by becoming the first player in NFL history to lead two different teams in sacks during the same season in what became a career year for him. Across his 16 games with both teams, Sweat finished the season by posting 57 total tackles, 14 for a loss, 12.5 sacks, 25 QB hits, three forced fumbles, and four pass breakups. Six of those sacks came with the Bears, and the rest came with Washington, leading both teams. His play landed him another pro-bowl nod. Not only did Sweat have a career year last season, but just being on the field makes everyone else on defense better, as you saw during the second half of the Bears' season. If that trend were to continue into this season, the Bears' defense would be scary, and Sweat would be a big reason why if he can consistently get after the quarterback again. It's no secret that Sweat was angry after being traded from the Commanders, and he played that way on the field. However, he didn't let that bother him as he fit in immediately with his new team and now had an opportunity to go through his first offseason in Chicago. There are lingering questions across the Bear's defensive front, but Sweat isn't one of them, as he will again play an integral role in what the Bears do defensively. Sweat is the Bears only real threat when it comes to rushing the QB, which Poles still should address at some point before the season starts. However, you could also argue that Sweat has unlocked his potential in Chicago, leaving many to believe that an even better season is in store for him this season. With arguably the worst pass rush in the NFL last season, you started to see the Bears improve once Sweat was added to this roster. Should he be able to play at the level he did last season along with Demarcus Walker and other guys stepping up, there is no question this pass rush will improve. There is no denying the impact Sweat made on this team last season. Had it not been for DJ Moore having one of the best seasons in the NFL, Sweat would've been the team MVP. This was a team that was dead in the water before he arrived, only to go 5-2 in their final seven games, as his ability to get after the quarterback helped turn things around for this team defensively. With a fresh contract just south of 100 million for the next four seasons, Sweat will not only be counted on to be a massive part of this defense, but will be relied heavily on to help this pass rush improve in the right direction. Should the Bears find a way to add a guy like Yannick Ngakoue to pair with Sweat, it is possible that Sweat could play himself into the defensive player of the year conversation, he plays at the level he did in 2023.
