The Washington Commanders have a big list of free agents in 2024. Perhaps the two biggest names on that list are defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young.
Sweat is playing on his fifth-year option, while Young’s fifth-year option for 2024 declined. This means that Sweat and Young are likely competing against one another for a long-term contract from Washington.
Young and Sweat are extremely close. They spent most of this offseason working out together, and Young brought Sweat with him to Ohio State recently to meet with Young’s former college defensive line coach, Larry Johnson.
What did Sweat pick up during his time with Johnson?
“Just honing in on some of the techniques from Coach Larry Johnson,” Sweat said. “He was actually great. We brought some of the things that we did in Ohio back out here just for pre-practice and stuff like that we do, so yeah, it was great. It was a great experience.”
If Sweat feels any pressure in 2023, he’s not showing it. Through four NFL seasons, Sweat has 29 career sacks. He’s been durable —outside of 2021 when he broke a jaw and missed time due to a family tragedy —playing in every game in three of his four seasons.
The one knock on Sweat from outsiders is he needs more sacks. Washington isn’t disappointed in Sweat, reportedly wanting to lock him into an extension. However, in order to get paid elite money, stats do matter.
Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio praised Sweat over the offseason, noting how if Sweat finishes more plays, his numbers would “explode.”
“I think he’s been very close, very disruptive, done a lot of really good things. I mean, he’s a good football player, and when he starts finishing at a higher rate, his numbers are gonna explode. I anticipate him having that kind of a year for us,” Del Rio said.
Del Rio was right. Different defensive metrics support Sweat’s pass-rush numbers from 2022. He’s close. Sweat lived in opposing backfields at times last season. Imagine if a few of those plays turn into sacks. That could be the difference between nine sacks and 13 sacks — and that means a lot more money.
“I mean, I used to feel like that, but I mean, after a certain while, you realize it’s not really in the numbers,” Sweat said when asked about his expectations for the season. “It’s just about affecting the game. How can you affect the game?”
That’s a mature approach. And Sweat is correct. If you’re focused on numbers, your attention is in the wrong place. Sweat is focused on doing his job — which he does very well. If he remains healthy, his numbers will be even better in 2023.
And having a healthy Young on the opposite side — and Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen in the middle — the sky is the limit for Sweat and Young.