The Chicago Bears Have Major Salary Decisions Coming

Chicago Cannot Ignore the Montez Sweat Problem

When the Chicago Bears traded for Montez Sweat and immediately signed him to a four-year, $98 million dollar extension with $72 million guaranteed, the expectation was simple. Sweat was supposed to be the cornerstone of Chicago’s pass rush. He was supposed to be the veteran anchor of the defensive line. He was supposed to be the player who elevated the entire front seven.

Instead, Sweat has been nearly invisible. Through five games, he has not produced at the level of a $98 million dollar edge rusher. And now he is suspended for two games for PEDs. That combination is devastating for Chicago. Sweat’s cap hit jumps to more than $24 million next season, and the Bears must decide whether they can justify paying premium money for a player who has not delivered premium production.

Sweat is not a bad player. He is not washed. But he has not been the difference maker Chicago paid for. The suspension only intensifies the conversation. The Bears must evaluate whether moving on from Sweat is the responsible long term decision.

Jaylon Johnson’s Contract No Longer Matches His Play

Chicago signed Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76  million dollar deal with $50 million guaranteed after his All Pro 2023 season. At the time, it looked like a smart investment. Johnson was elite. He was reliable. He was a franchise cornerstone.

That version of Johnson is gone. His coverage numbers have cratered. He has allowed a completion percentage far above his career average. He has not recorded an interception. His passes defended have dropped. His movement has not looked the same since his groin injury. And the film has been even worse than the numbers.

Johnson is being paid like a top 10 corner. He is not playing like one. With Kyler Gordon returning and rookie Malik Muhammad emerging as a legitimate starting option, Chicago must consider whether Johnson’s contract is now a liability. Trading him is not unrealistic. Benching him is not unrealistic. The Bears cannot keep paying seventy six million for declining production.

Grady Jarrett’s Contract Is Becoming Harder to Justify

The Bears signed Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $51 million dollar deal to bring veteran leadership and interior disruption to the defensive line. Jarrett has been steady, but he has not been dominant. His cap hit rises to more than $18 million next season, and Chicago must decide whether that number aligns with his current impact.

Jarrett is respected. He is experienced. He is valuable in the locker room. But the Bears need more interior pressure, and Jarrett has not consistently provided it. Chicago may explore restructuring his deal or moving on entirely to free up cap space for younger, more explosive defensive linemen.

T. J. Edwards Could Become a Cap Casualty

T. J. Edwards is not a guaranteed departure, but he is absolutely part of the conversation. Edwards signed a three-year, $19.5 million dollar contract, which is affordable, but Chicago has younger linebackers developing quickly. If the Bears want to free up money for extensions or defensive reinforcements, Edwards could be a player they consider moving.

Edwards has been solid, but not irreplaceable. His future depends entirely on how Chicago wants to allocate resources across the defense.

My Analysis: Chicago Must Make Hard Decisions

The Bears have reached a point where several major contracts no longer match the production they are receiving. Montez Sweat is suspended and underperforming. Jaylon Johnson has regressed sharply. Grady Jarrett is expensive for his current impact. T. J. Edwards may be replaceable.

Chicago is entering an offseason where they must be aggressive, strategic, and honest. If the Bears want to build a championship roster around Caleb Williams, they cannot afford to carry expensive contracts that do not deliver championship level production.