One doesn't have to be a football savant to realize that the Chicago Bears could use some help on defense. Montez Sweat is great and all, but this team doesn't have enough depth along the defensive line, especially in the pass-rushing department.
General manager Ryan Poles has ignored this glaring need for most of the offseason, but there's still plenty of time to get a deal done. The trade deadline will give this team a myriad of options to choose from, though they won't be alone in that pursuit.
That's why, when Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report predicted the Bears would send a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals to get Josh Sweat, the first thought that some may have had was 'Yes, they should,' while others may have thought, 'Wasn't he on the Packers' radar?'
The Bears can get two wins by trading for Josh Sweat
"Sweat will turn 30 next offseason and looms as a potential 2027 cap casualty. Moving him for quality draft capital would make sense. Giving up a conditional pick that could become a Day-2 selection for Sweat would be logical for a contender like the Chicago Bears," wrote Knox. "Chicago still needs a consistent edge presence opposite Montez Sweat, and it could acquire one by doing a deal with the Cardinals."
No one hates the Green Bay Packers more than the Bears, and vice versa. Sweat has some obvious ties to Lambeau Field, as the Packers hired Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator, and he's coached him in Philadelphia and Arizona. Also, they need someone to pick up the slack while Micah Parsons is out with an injury.
That's why stealing him from them would only make this sweeter. Of course, the Bears can use a head-hunting threat like him, but knowing that he could've gone to a fellow NFC North rival would make it feel like a two-for-one.
Now, from a football perspective, Sweat might be just what the doctor ordered for this team. Even though he played for one of the worst teams in the league, he still stood tall with 30 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles (with one recovery), two pass breakups, and 12.0 sacks.
The Bears struggled to put pressure at the line of scrimmage, and there are still major doubts about Dayo Odeyingbo, especially after an injury. The Cardinals claim they don't want to trade Sweat, but it's just a matter of time before they realize they must cut their losses and get as much as they can for their veterans.
A solid pass rush might be the difference between another early playoff exit and going the distance in year two of the Ben Johnson era. And if he can stick it to Matt LaFleur and the Packers in the process, even better.
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