It didn’t take the Chicago Bears long to agree to a contract extension with recently acquired defensive end Montez Sweat.
On Saturday, Sweat and the Bears agreed to a four-year contract worth $98 million, with a reported $72 million fully guaranteed and $62 million due at signing, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.
This is all before Sweat makes his debut for the Bears, which occurs on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The Bears sent a 2024 second-round draft selection to the Washington Commanders for Sweat on Tuesday ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
At 2-6. the Bears were criticized for trading a premium draft asset for a player on an expiring contract with no promise he would stay. The Bears quickly ended that criticism by locking up Sweat for the next four seasons.
In five NFL seasons, Sweat has 35.5 career sacks, with a career-high of nine set in 2020. With 6.5 sacks this season, Sweat is on pace to set a new career-high.
The Commanders will play their first game without Sweat and Chase Young on Sunday against the New England Patriots.