News Report: Montez Sweat Trade Grades: Commanders Get Value, Bears Gamble....

Washington acquired a high second-round NFL draft selection, dealing away a pass rusher to Chicago, which only has 10 sacks this season.

The Bears acquired a quality pass rusher who can help boost one of the league’s most anemic front fours.

The problem? Chicago is miles from Super Bowl contention and just traded what is sure to be a top-40 pick for a player about to hit free agency.

On Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the Commanders sent Montez Sweat to the Bears for a 2024 second-round pick, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat was traded to the Bears for a second-round pick during the NFL's trade deadline.

Sweat, 27, is in the final year of his rookie deal in Washington, throughout which he showed a knack for getting to the quarterback. In four-and-a-half years with the Commanders, Sweat has 35.5 sacks, including 6.5 this season. He’ll immediately become the Bears’ best pass rusher; Chicago has only 10 sacks in eight games. Linebacker T.J. Edwards and defensive end Yannick Ngakooue are tied for the team lead with two.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles has now made two deadline deals in as many years. Last season, he traded away what became the 32nd pick for receiver Chase Claypool, who dressed for 10 games across parts of two seasons with the Bears, totaling 191 receiving yards. Earlier this month, he was dealt to the Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round pick as part of a late-round swap.

It’s unclear why Poles is acting like he has a contending team. Most teams in the Bears’ position would be selling in hopes of amassing draft capital, shedding salary and positioning themselves for a long-term run built on rookie deals and smart signings.

Instead, Chicago is now without an important pick. While Sweat is a quality player, the Bears could have waited for free agency and then pursued Sweat, at that point only costing cap space instead of a premium selection in the 2024 draft in April.