Lost in all the talk regarding the Washington Commanders declining to pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option is fellow pass-rusher Montez Sweat.
Sweat, like Young, will be a free agent after the upcoming 2023 NFL season. The 2019 first-round pick is playing this season on his fifth-year option.
Through four NFL seasons, the 6-foot-6, 262-pound Sweat has 29 sacks and 37 tackles for loss. He’s been durable, too, having missed only seven games, all of which came in the 2021 season. Sweat suffered a broken jaw that season and tragically lost his brother late in the season.
Sweat was one of the NFL’s more productive pass rushers in 2022, however, didn’t receive the recognition of others because he finished with eight sacks. Sweat, an outstanding run defender, was often around the quarterback, and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio believes Sweat’s numbers could “explode.” It’s all about finishing a few of those pressures for Sweat.
On a recent episode of the “Command Center Podcast” with former Washington players Logan Paulsen, Fred Smoot and Santana Moss, all three agree the 2023 season will be a big one for Sweat.
“He’s poised for a big year,” Paulsen said. “I just think he’s going to come out and set the foundation for a big year.”
“His energy was just there,” Smoot said after recently talking with Sweat. “It’s set up for him to dominate.”
“If you watched closely, these guys play last year, Sweat was so close,” Moss said. “He could’ve easily had so many more sacks. So many other guys that we talk about, the guys on the inside [Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen], we talk about Chase Young, and Sweat is just out there making plays every time.”
The guys are in agreement this year is going to be Montez Sweat's year 👏
New Command Center podcast ⤵️
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) June 20, 2023
Washington wants to extend Sweat before he ever hits the free-agent market. However, until new owner Josh Harris and his group are approved, any long-term agreements are on hold.
With Sweat being this close to free agency and so many predicting a huge year, would he sign a new deal now? Or wait until after the season? If Sweat and Young have big years, the Commanders will have a good problem on their hands in deciding which one to pay.
