After weeks of speculation, the Washington Commanders did make a move ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Washington sent defensive end Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 second-round pick.
The trade should give the Commanders three picks in the top 50 of the 2024 NFL draft.
Sweat leads Washington with 6.5 sacks in 2023 and is on pace to shatter his previous career-high of nine sacks set in 2020.
While we’ve seen what others think of the move, here are five takeaways from Sweat’s trade to Chicago.
Too good of a deal to pass up
The Chicago Bears are a bad team. They will be picking somewhere in the top 45, but, as of right now, that pick would be No. 35. How do you turn that down if you are Washington? The Commanders are also a bad team, therefore, this trade likely gives Washington three picks in the top 50 in 2024.
The trade is also not contingent on Chicago signing Sweat to an extension. That’s a win for the Commanders.
A good deal for both sides
The Bears badly needed a pass rusher. There was no guarantee they’d find that pass rusher in the draft or in free agency. Sweat is a free agent, but Washington could have franchised him, or Sweat could have signed anywhere else. Now, the Bears can work on extending him over the next few months.
From the Washington perspective, the team hadn’t approached Sweat about an extension. The team liked him but was content moving on. Sweat was a good, consistent player for Washington but not one the Commanders were willing to pay top-of-the-market money for in the offseason. So, instead of waiting for a compensatory pick that may not come, they dealt him now and landed a premium pick.
Ron Rivera is not in control
If head coach/head of football operations Ron Rivera was indeed in control, he’s not making this deal. Rivera loved Sweat, and the franchise had long wanted to extend Sweat. With the team for sale over the past year, it limited any chances for the Commanders to extend Sweat.
This was a move driven by new owner Josh Harris. While Rivera and Martin Mayhew may have been on the phone lines, it was Harris who drove this deal, and that’s a good thing. The Commanders have been burned far too many times after holding onto a player for too long and not receiving premium compensation.
All about the future
With the Commanders trading Sweat, the ownership group is all about the future. With three premium picks in 2024, Washington now has some ammunition to either move up for a quarterback — if they determine Sam Howell isn’t the guy — or one of the top offensive tackles in what is expected to be a deep class.
Washington also has a lot of cap space in 2024, to the tune of over $91 million. It’s safe to assume the Commanders will be active in free agency as Harris and the presumed new regime look to retool the roster.
Commanders will be an attractive job
For the first time, well, in who knows how long, the Washington jobs (general manager and head coach) will be attractive positions in the offseason.
There is still talent on the roster. Terry McLaurin, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Jahan Dotson are good foundational pieces. Additionally, the Commanders have the money to retain any of their own free agents, such as Chase Young, Kamren Curl, or Kendall Fuller. And, for a new GM, he has eight picks, including three expected to be in the top 40-50, plus tons of cap room.
If Washington goes the traditional way of picking a new GM/coach, then the new GM is hired first and can pick his own head coach. A new regime may also really like Sam Howell and want to build the roster around him. Howell has shown promise, but if Washington lands in the top five, all bets are off.
