The Washington Football Team and defensive end Montez Sweat have agreed to a four-year, $105 million contract extension, a source confirmed to the Associated Press. The deal, which was first reported by ESPN, includes $65 million in guaranteed money and makes Sweat the highest-paid defensive player in team history.
Sweat, the 26th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has quickly become one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league. He has recorded 17.5 sacks in his first two seasons with the team, including a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2020. He also had a career-high 37 quarterback pressures last season, which was the second-most in the NFL.
The extension is a major win for the Washington Football Team, who have been looking to lock up their young core of talent for the long-term. Sweat’s deal is the latest in a series of big-money contracts that the team has handed out this offseason, including a four-year, $140 million extension for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and a five-year, $82.5 million extension for wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
The extension also cements Sweat’s place as one of the best pass rushers in the league. He has already established himself as one of the most feared defenders in the NFL and is now set to be one of the highest-paid players at his position. With his new deal, Sweat will have the opportunity to continue to develop and become an even more dominant force on defense.
The Washington Football Team is clearly committed to building a championship-caliber team around their young core of talent and Sweat’s extension is a major step in that direction. With Sweat locked up for the foreseeable future, the team can now focus on other areas of need as they look to build a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl title.
