Khalil Mack has been the hottest name mentioned around the Chicago Bears as the trade deadline looms closer. That makes sense. He is clearly not going to reverse the Los Angeles Chargers’ fortunes at 0-4. At 35 years old, he isn’t a building block for the future. It would be in the best interests of both parties for him to go elsewhere. Chicago seems like an obvious landing spot. However, he might not be the biggest fish in the pond from the Bears’ perspective. That title belongs to Josh Sweat.
The longtime defensive end is 29 years old and coming off a 12-sack season for the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, the team is clearly entering a rebuilding phase and just fired the coach Sweat signed on to play for (Jonathan Gannon). According to insider Jason La Canfora, people inside the league don’t buy the Cardinals’ stance that the veteran pass rusher won’t be traded. Sweat wants out, and is more likely than not to get his wish before the deadline in a few weeks.
Sweat is unhappy with his contract, and with a run on edge defenders expected as the deadline approaches, interest should be high. Contenders never feel they have enough pass rush, which could trigger a bidding war.
“I’d bet he’s not there by the deadline,” another longtime personnel executive said, adding that one GM noted he’s “heard he wants out.”
The Bears are in a great spot to entice Josh Sweat.
While money might be a factor in his current stance, the reality is that he probably doesn’t want to play for a team he knows is going nowhere. Remember, he spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping them win the Super Bowl in 2024. He signed with Arizona because he wanted a good contract and wanted to play for somebody he knew. Gannon had been his defensive coordinator in Philadelphia. That familiarity was a big selling point. Now that is out the window.
If he can’t play for Gannon, Josh Sweat would at least prefer playing for a winner. In years past, the Bears wouldn’t have even been an option in those circumstances. Not anymore. They are 3-1 and emerging as one of the NFC’s best. That will only be cemented further if they take down the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Getting to join a team with a dynamic offense that should provide frequent leads to allow him more pass rush opportunities is a major selling point.
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There isn’t much of a fit concern either.
Sweat is 6’5″ and 265 lbs. He has the dimensions Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen usually prefers. Having a rotation of him, Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo would be quite formidable. It would allow the Bears to send waves of rushers at the quarterback. Teams with that kind of setup tend to do pretty well in the playoffs. Sweat would know. He has 5 sacks and 22 pressures in 9 postseason appearances. The guy tends to be a big-game player, which is what the Bears need.
It all comes down to price. Given his age, he’ll likely cost more than Mack. A 3rd round pick is the probable range. With two years left on his contract, the Bears would at least keep him for an extended period. It comes down to whether they can create the necessary cap space to absorb his deal. It shouldn’t be an overly difficult move for GM Ryan Poles. The only remaining challenge is convincing Sweat that it’s a smart move.
