The NFL top 100 list has started to be revealed and many questions on what Chicago Bears players will make that list have begun to be answered. The first Bears player to make an appearance on the list is Montez Sweat. Sweat finds himself at 82nd on the list of top 100 and it is his first career appearance on the list.
#Bears DE Montez Sweat has been ranked No. 82 in the #NFLTop100.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) July 22, 2024
It’s his first appearance on the list of his career.
Montez Sweat was traded to the Bears last season after playing 8 games with the Washington Commanders. In a total of 17 games with the Commanders and the Bears, Sweat achieved career-high numbers in several categories, including tackles and sacks, and tied his career-high in forced fumbles. Despite playing in only half of the games for each team, Sweat was the leading sack leader for both the Commanders and the Bears.
Montez Sweat was the first Chicago Bears' player represented on the NFL's Top 100 list.
Sweats' impact on the field goes well past his individual stats. Before the Bears traded for Sweat, they found themselves struggling to get pressure on the quarterback and lacking in the turnover department. Once Sweat joined the team there was an uptick in pressure on the quarterback from guys such as Gervon Dexter and Demarcus Walker. The Bears also caused 19 turnovers during the team's last seven games. While it is impossible to pinpoint the exact reason for the sudden uptick in defensive performance, it is certainly impacted by Montez Sweats' presence on the field.
Montez Sweat's performance on the field last year earned him his first Pro Bowl appearance and a spot on the NFL top 100 list. It is evident that the Bears' decision to trade a second-round pick for Sweat is turning out to be a very good one. Bears fans will be looking to find other players from the team on this list but for now, it is very nice to see one of the Bear's impact players get well-deserved recognition.