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Montez Sweat's NFL Top 100 ranking proves the Bears have a defensive cornerstone

The veteran edge rusher earned the respect of his peers by checking in at No. 91 on the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2026 list.
ByCasey McAleer|
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Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98)) after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98)) after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears have been engaged in a months-long saga searching for an edge rusher to fit with the team as a natural opposite to Montez Sweat. Sweat was recently named one of the top 100 players in the NFL, clocking in at number 91. Getting this sort of recognition is a big deal for Sweat, and particularly a player in his position.

The top 100 is a list that isn't just fan-polling, this is a list created by voting from their peers. This makes it one of the top honors to receive in the NFL because it isn't just another meaningless accolade that pundits like to tack on to even the most minor of achievement. This is something that carries a lot of weight because it embodies the respect that the league grants to the seldom few.

Montez Sweat continues to earn respect as one of the NFL's premier pass rushers

If the Bears are to see significant improvement of the defensive side of the ball this season, they'll need to trust Sweat more than ever. With rumors of the defense getting all the more sweaty, it's possible that the defensive line doesn't look the way it does right now when it comes time for opening kickoff. It's more than likely that the Bears will have made some sort of move or deal to ensure the future of the position.

With the position currently up for grabs, the Bears will need to ensure that Dennis Allen and Sweat are on the same page. This is Sweat's second year under Allen, and he's one of the few players on the Bears defense that was retained from the 2025 squad. That allows him a significant advantage to knowing the playbook and knowing how to operate within it.

Montez Sweat has already earned the respect of his peers as one of the NFL's premier edge rushers, but the Bears are counting on him to elevate everyone around him in 2026. If Chicago's defense is going to take the next step under Dennis Allen, it will start with Sweat continuing to lead the charge off the edge.

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