The Washington Commanders have not made a decision on the fifth-year option for defensive end Montez Sweat. Washington head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, the team is still “working through” the process to make a decision.
“He’s a heck of a football player and a big part of what we do,” Rivera said of Sweat per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
Sweat will be entering his fourth year as a pro in the upcoming season. However, the Commanders have two months to decide if his fifth year is guaranteed to be in Washington.
Washington drafted Sweat with the 26th overall pick in 2019. They traded back into the first round to select Sweat after taking quarterback Dwayne Haskins with their first pick.
First-round picks have a fifth-year team option in their rookie contract. The decision has to be made at a selected date after that player’s third year under contract.
Sweat is coming off an up and down third year last season. Along with fellow defensive end and 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young, Sweat had high expectations going into the season. Thus expectations fell short.
Sweat struggled early in the season. Then a broken jaw, bout with COVID-19 and the death of his older brother led to him missing seven games. He previously started every game his first two seasons.
In 2021, Sweat had career lows of 24 tackles and five sacks along with three forced fumbles in 10 games.
He is set to make just under $2.1 million next season. Sweat’s fifth-year option for the 2023 season is projected to be a fully guaranteed $10.574 million, according to Over the Cap.
Sweat has 119 tackles, 21.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and one interception in his first three seasons with Washington.
