Montez Sweat

Bears Acquire DE Montez Sweat From Commanders

October 31st, 2023 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Montez Sweat‘s time in the nation’s capital has come to an end. The contract-year edge rusher has been dealt from the Commanders to the Bears in exchange for a second-round pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Sweat’s name has frequently been mentioned in trade talk, with the expectation he would be more likely to be moved than fellow Washington defensive end Chase Young. A third-round pick was known to be on the table for the former, but reports indicated the Commanders were angling for a second-rounder. With that in hand, Sweat is now headed to the Windy City. As a previous report indicated and SI’s Albert Breer confirms, the Bears were also involved in “extensive” talks for Young.

The Falcons were named as a team to watch for Sweat in particular. Atlanta was indeed in on the 27-year-old, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms. Interest in Sweat helped drive up the Commanders’ asking price, which to no surprise has come in higher than that of the third-round compensatory pick Washington would have been in line to receive had he departed in free agency.

The Commanders already have defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne on the books with hefty financial commitments. Since the team elected to decline Young’s fifth-year option, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year is set to see his rookie contract expire at the end of the season. Young is content to wait until that point to negotiate what will be a sizeable raise on his second pact. Schefter confirms the challenge of keeping both Young and Sweat under contract beyond 2023 played a role in the decision to pull off today’s trade.

It will be interesting to see how Young (who has remained healthy in 2023 and registered five sacks) performs without Sweat lining up opposite him. The latter has also had a strong season with 6.5 sacks, and he will look to translate that production to a Bears team desperately in need of a long-term boost in the pass rush department. Sweat – who is PFF’s third-highest rated run defender amongst edge rushers (and 56th in terms of pass rush grade) – is attached to his $11.5MM fifth-year option in 2023, and he too will be due a lucrative extension at some point in the near future.

Chicago is set to once again have considerable cap space this offseason (a league-leading $110MM entering today), as was the case in 2023. General manager Ryan Poles was active in a number of areas during free agency, but the main edge rush addition was a one-year deal given to nomadic sack artist Yannick Ngakoue. The 28-year-old received $10.5MM in a bid to give the Bears a consistent presence on third downs and help his chances of securing a multi-year commitment in the spring. Things have not gone according to plan so far, however, with Ngakoue registering just a pair of sacks in eight games.

Sweat will provide a starting presence for the Bears, who sit at the bottom of the league with just 10 sacks on the year. The Mississippi State alum has managed between five and nine in that regard in every season so far, and a strong showing to close out the year will help his bargaining power regarding extension talks with Chicago at the end of the year (unless, of course, an extension will have already been worked out by that point).

The Commanders are clearly adopting a seller’s stance given today’s move, but a recent report suggested a fire sale should not be expected. Sweat may therefore be the only notable name to depart Washington, but the Bears will remain a team to watch over the coming hours given the newfound uncertainty surrounding cornerback Jaylon Johnson‘s future in Chicago.

Latest On Commanders’ Deadline Plans, DE Montez Sweat

October 30th, 2023 at 12:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders saw their record drop to 3-5 on Sunday, potentially giving the team extra incentive to move on from one or more of their players on expiring deals. A surge in deals sending numerous contributors out of Washington should not be expected however.

ESPN’s John Keim reports that the Commanders are unlikely to have a “fire sale.” The team has had a number of close losses, and the landscape of the NFC could keep them in contention for a wild-card spot depending on how the second half of their season goes. Still, it comes as no surprise that defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young have frequently come up in trade talks.

The former in particular has received the most interest, with a third-round pick reportedly on the table from the Falcons. Ben Standig of The Athletic reports that one team has offered a third-rounder which would become a second-round selection in the event Sweat signed an extension. Whether or not that team is Atlanta is unclear, however. Overall, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano confirms Sweat is likelier than Young to fetch a notable trade haul given the latter’s injury history.

Both former first-rounders are pending free agents, and many have questioned Washington’s willingness or ability to retain each of them on lucrative second contracts. To no surprise, the Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option and decided to evaluate his health in 2023 before making a long-term commitment. The former Defensive Player of the Year has had a strong season to date, though.

The same is true of Sweat, who is playing on his $11.5MM option this year. The 27-year-old (as well as Young) has been the subject of trade inquiries for months, Keim adds, due to his unresolved contract situation. In Sweat’s case, that is not for a lack of desire on the team’s part to work out an agreement. The Commanders wanted to extend Sweat this past offseason, one in which the organization’s purchase by Josh Harris put a halt on contract and staff matters.

The Mississippi State product has racked up 6.5 sacks this year, giving him a strong chance of surpassing his career high (9.0, in 2020). A number of teams could be in the market for help along the edge, but the possibility of receiving a third-round compensatory pick in free agency in the event he departed will give Washington reason to command a high price in any Sweat trade. The Commanders are prepared to keep both of their starting edge rushers in place beyond tomorrow’s deadline, but interest in Sweat in particular will no doubt remain high before then.

Falcons Offer Third-Round Pick For Commanders’ Montez Sweat; Bears Interested In Chase Young?

October 29th, 2023 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 29, 11:42am: The Falcons have offered a third-round pick for Sweat, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Atlanta is sitting atop the NFC South with a 4-3 record and is looking to fortify an already-impressive defense that presently ranks third in yards allowed and ninth in points per game. One thing that defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen‘s unit has not done as well is sack the quarterback, as Atlanta ranks near the bottom of the league with 13 sacks.

Earlier today, we heard that the Falcons were among the clubs expected to stand pat at the deadline, but if the team has its way, that will not be the case. General manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith are in their third season in their respective posts, and it stands to reason that they would want to make an aggressive move to help snap Atlanta’s five-year playoff drought and bolster their job security in the process.

In a separate piece, Florio, citing a league source, reports that the Bears may be interested in Young. Although the 2-5 Chicago outfit presently looks more like a seller than a buyer, the club is flush with 2024 cap space and would be willing to authorize a large extension that would keep Young in the fold for years to come. Young would immediately become a foundational piece of a defense that is in need of more playmakers.

OCTOBER 29, 08:43am: Contrary to Schefter and Breer, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz says that the Commanders are not waiting for the outcome of today’s game against the Eagles and have begun to initiate trade calls on Sweat and Young (video link). While Russini had reported last week that Washington was making calls to gauge the market, Schultz seems to suggest that the team has gone beyond that stage.

If true, that obviously does not help the Commanders’ leverge in negotiations, but they realize it will be exceedingly difficult to retain both players, and the new ownership group apparently believes collecting trade compensation for one of the two defenders will further its goal of building a sustainable franchise.

OCTOBER 28: Plenty of attention is still being paid to the Commanders in advance of the trade deadline, with Chase Young and Montez Sweat known to be available. Neither edge rusher has been moved yet, due to the gap between the team’s asking price and the willingness of interested parties to meet it.

More clarity has emerged on that front. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the Commanders are seeking a second-round pick in a deal involving either Young or Sweat (subscription required). To date, the team has only received offers closer to a third-rounder, she adds. It is believed Sweat has received more interest than Young so far, with at least one firm offer having been reported in the former’s case.

That comes as little surprise, given Young’s injury history. He appears to have rebounded well from his missed time in 2021 and ’22, however, having played in six of Washington’s seven contests so far. In that stretch, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year has posted five sacks and 18 pressures, putting him on track for a career year in those and other categories. Knowing that, Young is prepared to wait until the offseason to discuss his next contract, regardless of if it comes from the Commanders or another team.

Of course, Washington is prepared to keep both Young and Sweat (who is playing on his $11.5MM fifth-year option and has 5.5 sacks this year) past the trade deadline, a move which would lead to an interesting offseason in their cases. Both will be in line for raises on their next deals, and teams can only place the franchise tag on one player in any given year. With DTs Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne already on the books with lucrative contracts of their own, it would be a challenge to avoid at least one of Young or Sweat testing the open market.

As previous reports have alluded to, both ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated note that tomorrow’s game against the Eagles will go a long way in informing the Commanders’ moves at the deadline. A loss would drop Washington to 3-5, while a win would give them reason for optimism regarding a run to the playoffs in 2023 – an effort which would be hindered by moving one or both of the team’s starting edge rushers. It will be interesting to see how much (if at all) the market for Young and Sweat moves in the lead-up to the October 31 deadline.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Teams Showing Interest In Commanders’ Chase Young, Montez Sweat

October 25th, 2023 at 10:59am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 25: At least one offer has come in for Sweat, according to Jhabvala, but no known proposals have arrived for Young. The Commanders had viewed Weeks 7 and 8 as critical for their deadline plans, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds the team has given the impression it wants to retain Young despite his lack of a contract beyond this season. The 3-4 team losing to the favored Eagles could end up swaying the organization’s trade plans before the Halloween deadline. As of now, however, the Sweat-Young duo remains in place.

OCTOBER 24: As the trade deadline approaches, one of the key questions surrounding the Commanders is how they will proceed with Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Both edge rushers are due for a new contract in the offseason, and their names have come up in trade speculation.

Washington is not actively looking to move either player, but reports have indicated offers will be considered if they check in near the team’s (as of yet unknown) asking price. Of course, that would require sufficient interest on the part of other teams which would be willing to not only pay a notable price in draft capital in a trade, but also make a long-term financial commitment.

On that point, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports that “several identifiable teams” are prepared to pull off a trade for Young or Sweat and retain them via a long-term deal. Both former first-rounders have been full-time starters during their time in the nation’s capital, though Young’s tenure has been underwhelming in large part due to injuries. The former No. 2 pick has suited up for five games this year, however, and racked up five sacks and 18 QB pressures to date. Those figures have him on track to surpass his production from his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2020.

Sweat, meanwhile, has put up nearly identical stats this year (5.5 sacks, 17 pressures) while remaining a key component of Washington’s defensive front. That unit already has two major commitments, of course, in the form of defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Young and Sweat will each need lucrative second contracts starting in 2024; the former had his fifth-year option declined in the spring, while the latter is playing out his option this year ($11.5MM).

Many expect the Commanders to simply retain both Young and Sweat through the deadline and attempt to re-sign at least one of them ahead of free agency. As Sam Fortier and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post note, outside executives don’t foresee teams preparing much of a trade offer for either player given their status as a rental. Deadline deals often seen aging veterans moved to contenders for a postseason run, but an exception amongst pass rushers emerged last year when the Broncos dealt Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins for a haul including a first-round pick.

That deal was immediately followed by Chubb inking a five-year, $110MM deal in Miami, making his acquisition a long-term investment. It will be interesting to see if a team demonstrates a willingness to pull off a similar trade-and-sign arrangement in the case of Young and/or Sweat in the coming days.

Commanders Not Looking To Trade DEs Chase Young, Montez Sweat?

October 22nd, 2023 at 8:18am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 22: Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) contradicts Fowler’s report to some degree. She hears that while the Commanders are staying patient for the time being, they have made calls to gauge the market on both Young and Sweat. She gets the sense that one of the two pass rushers will be on the move (provided, of course, that a team meets Washington’s asking price).

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports is more closely aligned with Fowler, saying that there have been no internal conversations about moving either player, since the next two games will be so pivotal in determining the direction of a club that is currently 3-3. Jones believes it is unlikely that either player is traded at the deadline.

OCTOBER 20: As the trade deadline draws closer, many teams have important decisions to make with short- and long-term roster implications. In the case of the Commanders, the team’s plans regarding its top two edge rushers will be worth watching.

Chase Young and Montez Sweat have been mentioned in trade speculation given their lack of commitments beyond this year from Washington. The former is set to hit free agency in March since his fifth-year option was not picked up, while the latter is playing out his option ($11.5MM) this season. Both remain full-time starters whose performances will go a long way in determining their respective futures in the nation’s capital.

On that point, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Commanders plan to have both Young and Sweat in the fold for years to come, meaning they are not looking to trade either of them. Young, the second overall pick in 2020, has been marred by injury troubles since his Rookie of the Year-winning debut season. This year, however, the 24-year-old has suited up in five of six games and produced three sacks and 15 QB pressures.

Sweat leads the Commanders with 4.5 sacks this year, putting him halfway to his career-high in that department from 2020. Washington has posted 19 total sacks this season, demonstrating the effectiveness of its Day 1-laden defensive front – led along the interior by Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen – when healthy. Both Allen (in 2021) and Payne (this past March) inked big-ticket extensions, making it a potentially tricky proposition to commit to one or both of Young and Sweat on lucrative second contracts of their own.

As Fowler adds, the Commanders’ desire to keep both of their starting defensive ends won’t preclude them from listening to offers ahead of this year’s October 31 deadline. In the event a deal were to be given serious consideration and ultimately finalized, Young would be the likelier edge rusher to be moved, Fowler notes. That falls in line with the prevailing thought concerning the latter, who did not come close to replicating his Pro Bowl season from 2020 in his limited action over the two following campaigns (although his play so far this season has been more encouraging).

Sitting at 3-3, the Commanders are one of several teams which cannot be firmly placed into the buyers or sellers category at this point. Continued strong play from both Young and Sweat could make the team’s decision on their fates easier, but interested teams could emerge with a less cumbersome financial outlook along the D-line regarding 2024 and beyond. It will thus be interesting to see how much of a market develops for the pair, and the price at which Washington could be willing to pull off a trade.

Edge Notes: Judon, Sweat, Van Noy, Bears

October 6th, 2023 at 12:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots’ defense has been hit hard by injuries lately, including the torn bicep suffered by pass rusher Matt Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery, and it is doubtful he will be able to return this season.

Judon is likely facing a six-month recovery timeline, as noted by ESPN’s Dan Graziano. That would, of course, shut him down for the remainder of the season – something which would also carry financial implications for him given the nature of his restructured contract. The 31-year-old has expressed a desire to play again this year, though, and Graziano adds he and the Patriots are exploring a recovery path similar to that of Steelers star T.J. Watt.

The latter suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 of last year, an injury which usually shuts players down for the season. The former Defensive Player of the Year managed to recover in time to play in Week 9, however, which helped spark a late-season playoff push in Pittsburgh. Judon will attempt to emulate that, but for now it appears unlikely he will be able to do so.

Here are some other edge-related notes from around the league:

Chase Young and Montez Sweat form the foundation of the pass rush contingent for the Commanders, but one has played to their potential far more than the other. Despite being a former No. 2 pick, Young is in line to reach free agency in March since his fifth-year option was declined amidst major injury concerns and an inability to follow up on an encouraging rookie season. Sweat is likewise in need of a new deal, as he is playing on his $11.5MM option in 2023. Of the two, SI’s Albert Breer expects the latter to be targeted for a long-term second contract over Young. Breer explains that Sweat – who already has 4.5 sacks in 2023, bringing him halfway to matching his single-season high – will likely be easier to extend than Young. With big-money commitments to defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen already in place, Washington would be hard pressed to retain both Sweat and Young on multi-year pacts.
Facing a number of injury concerns amongst their outside linebackers, the Ravens recently signed Kyle Van Noy to serve in a depth capacity. The veteran has proven to be an effective hybrid defender, and his playing time should increase given the fact 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo could miss the rest of the campaign. Van Noy’s arrival in Baltimore could have come much sooner, though. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes that the Ravens tried to sign 32-year-old this offseason, but the sides couldn’t agree on compensation. That opened the door to the team’s Jadeveon Clowney acquisition, but the pair are now in place together. Each will have a role to play as the Ravens look to maintain a top-10 sack total (13 through four games) through the remainder of the year.
The Bears ended their 14-game losing streak last night, but the team’s defensive struggles were deserving of much of the blame for the skid reaching that length. The unit has been hampered in recent years by a lack of established edge rushing options, which made Chicago’s Yannick Ngakoue August signing an unsurprising one. The 28-year-old’s one-year, $10MM pact has led to a pair of sacks so far, but as a team Chicago has registered only seven to date. As a result, defensive end will be a priority in the 2024 offseason, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The 1-4 Bears will have chances in free agency and the draft to add much-needed contributors on the edge, regardless of if Ngakoue is retained.

Latest On Commanders Extension Talks, Front Office Moves

August 19th, 2023 at 9:29am CST by Ben Levine

The Commanders have a number of players heading into contract years, including Montez Sweat and Chase Young. We previously heard that the team’s talks with Sweat were on hold following Josh Harris‘ purchase of the team, but Ron Rivera hinted that extension talks with impending free agents could soon resume.

Speaking to reporters (including ESPN’s John Keim), the Commanders head coach revealed that the coaching staff and front office continues to prepare for negotiations as ownership settles.

“There’s a lot to do,” Rivera said. “To assume anything will happen immediately is unfair; they are still learning and understanding us. We’re still talking with them and trying to get things lined up and in order.”

While the two pass rushers are the most notable players with expiring contracts, the Commanders have other extension-worthy players. This grouping includes running back Antonio Gibson, cornerback Kendall Fuller, and wide receiver Curtis Samuel.

Among the team’s impending free agents, Sweat seems like the most likely to re-sign. Keim previously noted that the Commanders would like to extend the edge rusher. Young’s future with the team is in question after the organization declined the former second-overall pick’s fifth-year option. The Commanders will presumably let Young play out the 2023 campaign before deciding how to proceed.

While the team may be taking their time with player extensions, the Commanders have been busy adding to their front office. With Harris officially taking over the organization, the owner has made his first splash, hiring Craig Fischer as CFO (per Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske of the Washington Post). Meanwhile, former Atlanta Hawks COO/MetLife Stadium visionary Thad Sheely has been brought on as a consultant, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Jhabvala adds (on Twitter) that Sheely has been brought in to advise “on real estate and stadium matters.”

Commanders’ Montez Sweat Extension Plans On Hold

June 16th, 2023 at 1:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both Montez Sweat and Chase Young are going into contract years, thanks to Washington declining the latter’s fifth-year option. While the the Commanders’ defensive line commitments might dictate an either/or situation regarding an extension, they might not need to see more from Sweat before beginning extension talks.

The team would like to extend Sweat, John Keim of ESPN.com notes, but the ownership situation is pausing the talks. We heard of the ownership-driven halt of big-picture decisions earlier this month, and while Ron Rivera said speaking to Dan Snyder remains an option, the fourth-year Washington HC now indicates the Commanders’ football ops heads will need to clear a move like this with new ownership expected to come in.

Josh Harris has agreed to purchase the Commanders for a record-setting $6.05 billion, but with the 76ers and Devils owner’s debt and number of minority partners in his ownership group has led to a longer vetting process from the NFL. That said, this is moving toward a ratification — either in July or August. By that point, it looks to be Harris needing to offer input on the Sweat front.

“We can’t go on until we get a chance to explain to them exactly what our thoughts and ideas are and whether they agree or disagree,” Rivera said, via Keim.

Drafted in the 2019 first round to play alongside Ryan Kerrigan, Sweat arrived in Washington based more on positional need. The 2020 No. 2 overall pick, Young was a value-based choice after a woeful 2019 season. While Young earned Defensive Rookie of the Year acclaim, he has not matched that level of play since. The ACL and patellar tendon tears Young suffered in November 2021 played the lead role in the Commanders passing on his fifth-year option. During this period, Sweat served as the team’s top edge rusher. A year before declining Young’s fifth-year option, the team picked up Sweat’s $11.6MM Year 5 guarantee.

Never a Pro Bowler, Sweat has still racked up 29 sacks and eight forced fumbles during his four-year career. Perhaps not soaring toward a top-market extension, Sweat is in the front office’s plans — despite having been a Bruce Allen-era draft choice. Sweat compiled a career-high 28 quarterback hits last season, though Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen have respectively led the team in sacks over the past two years. Each defensive tackle is also signed to a big-ticket extension, with Payne signing a $22.5MM-per-year deal shortly after being franchise-tagged. Jonathan Allen’s $18MM-AAV pact remains in the top 10 among D-tackles.

Washington, however, is hoping to build around Sam Howell‘s rookie contract. It cannot be assumed the 2022 fifth-round pick will be the answer, but the team does not currently have a franchise-QB salary on its books. That opens the door for more payments elsewhere, and the Commanders are projected — nine months out, at least — to carry more than $83MM in 2024 cap space. That could be used for a Sweat extension and potential Young franchise tag, depending on how the ex-Ohio State phenom looks this season.

Rivera and Co. opting for a Sweat extension over Young would be interesting, since Allen, Payne and Sweat were each draft picks by the previous regime. But the current Commanders regime is prepared to discuss terms with Sweat’s camp. It just looks like Harris will eventually need to greenlight those discussions.

2023 NFL Fifth-Year Option Results

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

Monday marked the deadline for NFL clubs to officially pick up their options on 2019 first-rounders. Fifth-year option seasons are no longer just guaranteed for injury — they’re now fully guaranteed, which makes these decisions a little tougher for teams.

Nineteen players had their options exercised, a tick up from 14 last year. Here’s the full rundown:

1. QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals – Exercised ($29.7MM)
2. DE Nick Bosa, 49ers: Exercised ($17.9MM)
3. DE Quinnen Williams, Jets: Exercised ($11.5MM)
4. DE Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: Declined ($11.5MM)
5. LB Devin White, Buccaneers: Exercised ($11.7MM)
6. QB Daniel Jones, Giants: Declined ($22.4MM)
7. DE Josh Allen, Jaguars: Exercised ($11.5MM)
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions: Exercised ($9.4MM)
9. DT Ed Oliver, Bills: Exercised ($10.8MM)
10. LB Devin Bush, Steelers: Declined ($10.9MM)
11. OT Jonah Williams, Bengals: Exercised ($12.6MM)
12. LB Rashan Gary, Packers: Exercised ($10.9MM)
13. DT Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: Exercised ($10.8MM)
14. G Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: Exercised ($13.2MM)
15. QB Dwayne Haskins:
16. DE Brian Burns, Panthers: Exercised ($16MM)
17. DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants: Exercised ($10.8MM)
18. C Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: Declined ($13.2MM)
19. DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Exercised ($10.8MM)
20. TE Noah Fant, Seahawks: Exercised ($6.9MM; originally drafted by Broncos)
21. S Darnell Savage, Packers: Exercised ($7.9MM)
22. OT Andre Dillard, Eagles: Declined ($12.6MM)
23. OT Tytus Howard, Texans: Exercised ($13.2MM)
24. RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders: Declined ($8MM)
25. WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals: ($13.4MM; originally drafted by Ravens)
26. DE Montez Sweat, Commanders: Exercised ($11.5MM)
27. S Johnathan Abram, Raiders: Declined ($7.9MM)
28. DE Jerry Tillery, Chargers: Declined ($11.5MM)
29. DE L.J. Collier, Seahawks: Declined ($11.5MM)
30. CB Deandre Baker — N/A (released by Giants)
31. OT Kaleb McGary, Falcons: Declined ($13.2MM)
32. WR N’Keal Harry, Patriots: Declined ($12.4MM)

Commanders To Pick Up Montez Sweat’s Option

April 27th, 2022 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Commanders are set to exercise Montez Sweat‘s fifth-year option (Twitter link via Ben Standig of The Athletic). With that, they now have the defensive end under contract through the 2023 season.

Sweat was limited to just ten games in 2021 thanks to a fractured jaw. Still, his past performance made this a pretty easy decision for Washington. Across all three years, the former first-round pick has 119 tackles and 21 sacks to his credit. He’s also registered seven forced fumbles, including three last year.

It’s also worth noting that Sweat suited up for 40 straight regular season games before the jaw injury. That helped the Commanders feel more comfortable with Sweat’s fully-guaranteed $11.5MM salary for 2023.

Sweat fell on draft day due to a misdiagnosed heart condition that tanked his stock. The Washington front office wasn’t bothered by the noise — they traded back into the first round, snagged Sweat at No. 26, and secured one of the better talents in the 2019 class.

NFL teams have until May 2 to exercise the fifth-year options for 2019 first-round draft picks. Earlier today, we learned that Bucs linebacker Devin White will have his option picked up for the 2023 season.

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