The Chicago Bears turned into a Top-10 caliber defense during the second half of the 2023 season thanks in part to the addition and play of defensive end Montez Sweat.

The mid-season trade to land the veteran pass rusher paid off immediately for the Bears' defense by having a proven pass rusher to get after the quarterback, allowing the secondary to create turnovers in the backend.

What we saw last season was only the beginning with the majority of the Bears' defensive core locked into place under head coach Matt Eberflus' scheme.

However, one thing will be different with how the unit functions beyond just the addition of new defensive coordinator Eric Washington. The team's high-priced defensive addition will be forced to step into a new role going forward as he becomes more acclimated as a leader on the team.

"I guess last year, I was just kind of playing my role and stuff like that; and this year, I'm looking forward to leading the defense," Sweat said while on the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long. "The mindset is the first thing actually that you got to change and just to be a leader, be humble around them, and just have that swagger and confidence that you can achieve those things. I'm not really a very vocal guy."

"I like to I like to lead by example. I like to show guys how to do it, how it's supposed to be done and eventually they follow suit. I don't do a lot of rah rah because I don't really respect that, I like to lead by example."

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The Bears traded for Sweat prior to the NFL trade deadline before Week 9 with the team desperate to add a prominent pass rusher off the edge. Outside of that looming need, the team's defense had been playing solid and flying under the radar. The addition of Sweat quickly put the unit on a national stage.

"When I got traded, I really didn't understand the type of defense that I really walked into," Sweat explained. "It was only missing one of one or two pieces. Maybe the week after it was like turnovers, interceptions, sacks, and it was like 'd**n', like, I really got a good group of guys around me. Eberflus was teaching nothing but turnover, turnover, turnover, turnover, turnover and we were getting the ball. So, it was crazy. I was really in shock because I didn't know what I was really walking into."

The Bears' defensive core outside of Sweat included Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, safety Jaquan Brisker, along with multiple promising rookies.

The one rookie who really got Sweat's attention during the final stretch of the season after he arrived in Chicago was defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, whom the Bears selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

"You're gunna see man. He's pretty good," Sweat said about Dexter. "I feel like he's still just kind of unlocking himself and being himself. And I think that's gonna really flourish this year, but he's a really talented kid. He's one of those quick [defensive] tackles and was strong as hell. It's really is really a sight to see. But yeah, he's gonna jump out on on the scene for sure."

Dexter finished his season with 2.5 sacks but even general manager Ryan Poles noted that the adjustment to his role at the next level took some getting used to. Sweat, however, viewed Dexter's persistence as a sign of great things to come.

"I mean another thing like using that leverage, you gotta learn how to, because he's a longer guy too," Sweat added. "So, he's one of those guys that's in like a jack of all trades like he could do it all kinds. Even bro sometimes when he came out on the edge and was making some insider moves. Yeah man, he's pretty good."

If Dexter is able to take his game to the next level in 2024, it would be a tremendous boost to Sweat and the rest of the team's defensive line. The Bears are rumored to be in the market for another pass rusher in the draft later this month, which would give the unit even more firepower to use against opposing quarterbacks while allowing Sweat to play more free in his second season in Chicago.

"I love the exit game," Sweat said. "Being able to take the guard completely out his shoes and you need a talented DT sometimes to run that game and also with the edge on the opposite side. It takes some of those chips [away] because the running back is going to chip one end and he can only line up on one side. It's hard to wait… But if I really had to choose I'll probably say another edge."

The Bears defense already looked incredibly exciting during the final stretch of the season next year and all signs point toward the unit, and the entire roster, becoming even better in 2024 with their new additions and potentially more on the way.

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