Despite the Chicago Bears having an inconsistent pass rusher in 2025, Montez Sweat did achieve some individual success. Is the Bears' top edge rusher primed for a breakout year?
Although it's not a popular answer, Bears coach Ben Johnson was pleased with Montez Sweat's 2025 season.
The Chicago Bears' defensive end didn't miss any games in the regular season and finished with 53 total tackles, 10 sacks, five passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
"I think Sweat had one of his better years in the NFL," Johnson said following the 2026 NFL Draft. " Whether that shows up in the sack total or not, he's a very complete player, both in the run game and pass game."
The reasoning Johnson's answer may not be popular among Bears fans is because the team's pass rush struggled to apply consistent pressure throughout the 2025 season. The Bears' defense ended with the 27th-worst quarterback pressure rate (31.6%) and were 28th in passing yards per play allowed (6.8).
Sweat had a productive year on an individual level, but how did he perform compared to his peers. Something that is also a huge factor is Sweat's contract, and he is being paid as a top-16 edge rusher in the NFL, according to his average per year salary ($24,500,00).
Here is how Sweat stacks up to some of the highest-paid edge rushers and outside linebackers in average annual salary the NFL.
Sweat finished with the eighth-most sacks (10), the 10th-most quarterback pressures (48) and had the 10th-highest win percentage (17.7) among the pass rushers in the above chart. The Bears' edge rusher also ended with the most turnovers caused by pressure with six, which helped the Bears lead the NFL in takeaways last season.
Just based off these stats alone, Johnson has a point about Sweat's 2025 season. Against the run, Sweat finished with a 62.9 run defense grade, which is the lowest of his seven-year career, according to Pro Football Focus. So, there is definitely room for improvement in that area of his game.
General manager Ryan Poles didn't add an edge rusher in free agency or the draft, and highlighted that Sweat was one of the players he felt strongly about going into next season.
“At the defensive line position, (Austin Booker) Books coming along, we have Dayo (Odeyingbo), Sweat, Shemar (Turner), feel good about those guys," Poles said after Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. "Obviously, we have one more day. So, we continue to add. But with what that group is, and what they've been coming into and we feel like there's some developmental upside and like I said yesterday, I think year two in the system, we'll be able to take the next step."
Speaking of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system, a major emphasis this year will focus on the coaching staff prioritizing the fundamentals and techniques and not the installation of the system, which has now been established with Allen entering Year 2 in Chicago.
If Sweat can build off off his 2025 season and generate more disruptive plays on opposing quarterbacks at a more consistent rate, then the 29-year-old will be primed for a breakout year.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound edge rusher set a career high in sacks (12.5) in 2023 when he was with the Washington Commanders and later traded to the Bears. Sweat wasn't far off from that mark in Year 1 of Allen's system.
The Bears will need a more productive year from Sweat to reach their team goals of being a better all-around defense in the 2026 season.
