Montez Sweat hadn’t even visited his Chicago Bears locker at Halas Hall when he stepped in entrance of reporters Wednesday afternoon. He didn’t know but that he was going to put on jersey No. 98.
“I’m still trying to figure out where I’m going to lay my head at tonight,” Sweat mentioned.
So the brand new Bears defensive finish should be excused for nonetheless determining what it’s going to take for the Bears to signal him to a contract extension.
It’s one of the vital related questions for the Bears after normal supervisor Ryan Poles traded a 2024 second-round draft decide to the Washington Commanders on Tuesday to amass Sweat, who’s within the remaining 12 months of his rookie contract. In order to make that funding in draft capital price it, the Bears clearly need Sweat for greater than 9 video games.
Poles mentioned the Bears are working to make a cope with Sweat. He didn’t have a timeline for when it may be accomplished however mentioned he was hopeful “it won’t take too long.” The Bears additionally could have the franchise and transition tags obtainable this offseason if a contract doesn’t come to fruition.
“I feel really confident that we can get a deal done,” Poles mentioned.
Sweat, a former Commanders first-round decide who has 35 1/2 profession sacks in 67 video games since 2019, mentioned monetary safety and the individuals and teammates round him could be essential components in the place he indicators his subsequent contract.
He mentioned he was certain his brokers had been speaking to the Bears about working one thing out. But for Wednesday, Sweat nonetheless was attempting to get his bearings in Lake Forest.
“Everything is happening kind of fast right now,” he mentioned. “I’m just waiting for it to slow down and hit the ground running when we get there.”
Poles referred to as the 6-foot-6, 262-pound Sweat “a long, fast, explosive, relentless defensive end that can help us both in the run and in the pass game.” He mentioned Sweat is “a multiplier,” the kind of participant who makes all people else on the protection higher.
“Hopefully he comes in and continues to be that dog that he’s shown over the years,” cornerback Jaylon Johnson mentioned of Sweat. “Get some tipped passes that maybe fall my way or get the QB to throw the ball off target a little bit, allow it to fall in my hands.”
Sweat joins a Bears cross rush in determined want of a lift after totaling an NFL-low 10 sacks by means of eight video games.
After inspecting the upcoming choices in free company and the draft, the Bears noticed the acquisition as getting forward of a aggressive market.
“If you look at the free agent stack now, it’s going to look very different by the time you get to that point of the year because there are so many different opportunities that can pop up in terms of extensions, tags, different things like that,” Poles mentioned. “So we decided with that type of player we wanted to capitalize on that now.”
It was the second time in two years Poles traded a second-round draft decide for a participant on the midseason deadline.
Last 12 months’s commerce, when Poles despatched what would change into the No. 32 total decide to the Pittsburgh Steelers for huge receiver Chase Claypool, clearly was a bust. The Bears traded Claypool to the Miami Dolphins after lower than a 12 months with the workforce.
Poles mentioned he discovered from the Claypool state of affairs. But he additionally didn’t let it have an effect on his pondering with Sweat, who’s extra established than Claypool was and already has 6 1/2 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, two compelled fumbles and 10 tackles for a loss in eight video games this 12 months.
“If (the moves) fail or you make mistakes, you look back at why and address those,” Poles mentioned. “The key is that sometimes you become a little bit shy to make aggressive moves as you go forward. That’s not how we’re wired. I took a lot of those things from that situation and kind of went through that process and said, ‘OK, here’s where we may have messed up this.’ Then for this one, it’s not making the same mistake.”
In the times earlier than the deadline, Sweat had seen the rumors swirling about doubtlessly being traded. His agent informed him the Atlanta Falcons had been among the many groups curious about buying him, and as somebody who’s from Georgia, it was “a place of interest.”
“Obviously they wanted me,” Sweat mentioned. “Here they wanted me more, so this is where I am.”
Sweat was heading to a Commanders walk-through Tuesday when he acquired the decision from his agent. He mentioned there have been “a lot of emotions” as he ready to depart his solely NFL dwelling, partially due to the relationships he constructed.
“I mean you’ve got to pick up shop and find a new home,” Sweat mentioned. “So there’s a lot of emotions that come with that, but I’m ready for the challenge. I’m ready to meet my new teammates and hit the ground rolling.”
In the quick time period, Sweat mentioned he believes he’ll play Sunday towards the New Orleans Saints, a chance coach Matt Eberflus left up within the air.
As for the long run, Sweat didn’t delve into how a lot leverage he has over the Bears in contract talks given the draft capital they gave as much as purchase him.
“I don’t really know too much about leverage and all that type of stuff,” he mentioned. “I just want to consider everything around me before I make a decision.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com