The Bears have a clear need on the edge, and Josh Sweat keeps popping up as the kind of answer that actually makes sense.
Right now, Montez Sweat is the only established performer in that room. Chicago has gotten early buzz from Austin Booker in camp, but that doesn’t change the bigger picture: the Bears still need another proven pass rusher, and Josh Sweat is one of the names that fits the bill. The Cardinals, meanwhile, may be starting to see that the veteran defender no longer lines up with their expected contention timeline.
A trade framework built around an early Day 2 pick feels like the cleanest way to get it done. Sweat’s contract is part of the equation too. He carries a $23.6 million cap hit in each of the final two years of his deal, in 2027 and 2028, which is a steep price tag - but also one that reflects a player being paid near the top of his market.
That’s why a Day 2 pick plus a late-round selection would be a reasonable package. Arizona would be adding to its future, while Chicago would be making a real move to narrow the gap with the Los Angeles Rams, who remain clear Super Bowl favorites out of the NFC.
And the football case for the Bears is easy to see. Sweat put up 12.0 sacks in the 2025 season, one year after helping fuel the Philadelphia Eagles on an impressive Super Bowl run.
That kind of production gives him the kind of résumé Chicago can trust, especially if he’s lining up opposite Montez Sweat. With both threats on the field, offensive lines would have a much harder time sliding help toward Chicago’s top edge option.
That’s also why there should be no real hesitation here as the Bears keep pushing toward the 2026 season. Booker has shown enough early in camp to be intriguing, but the pressure is still on him to become a steady pass-rushing presence. Adding Josh Sweat would let Chicago ease Booker into a rotational role while upgrading the top of the depth chart with what could be one of the league’s best edge-rushing duos.
In Other News...
Bears Secondary Suddenly Facing A Serious Camp Concern
Training camp usually offers the Bears their first real look at how the secondary is coming together, and Coby Bryant had been projected to play a major role after signing a three-year deal with Chicago. The safety arrived with expectations attached, both because of the contract and because the Bears were counting on him to be part of the backbone behind the defense.
Instead, the first major concern of camp arrived during a one-on-one drill, when Bryant went down with a knee injury and had to be evaluated by medical staff. The reaction around the field made it clear how serious the moment felt, and for a defense trying to build continuity, his availability now becomes one of the biggest questions hanging over the start of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Camp Is Already Creating A Roster Debate Fans Will Feel
The Bears first week of training camp has already offered a little of everything, and the early tone has leaned encouraging on defense. Players such as Coby Bryant have flashed in ways that stand out this time of year, the kind of camp moments that can shape how a roster feels before the pads really come on. It has also opened the door for some lesser-known names to make a case, giving the back end of the roster a little more intrigue than expected.
Roschon Johnson, meanwhile, is trying to keep pace in a crowded competition, with a surprise contender in Salmon Ahmed adding more pressure to the mix. And while those battles sort themselves out, the Bears are still waiting on Kyler Gordon, who remains out with a soft-tissue injury. For a team trying to sort out both depth and durability early in camp, that absence has been hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]