7 NFL Teams That Should Trade for Josh Sweat if Cardinals Make Him Available

While organized team activities (OTAs) are underway and minicamps are approaching, this is still a typically quiet period in the NFL offseason. However, quiet rarely means drama-free. As teams begin to report for OTAs, the players who do not show up often make headlines.

Arizona Cardinals edge-rusher Josh Sweat, who led the team with 12 sacks in 2025, is one of the more notable players who chose to skip early OTAs. It's certainly worth remembering that these activities are voluntary, but he may be trying to make a statement.

According to John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Phoenix (h/t Tyler Drake of AZ Sports), Sweat's absence is not injury-related. Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard has "been hearing for awhile" that he "is not particularly happy" in Arizona.

Now, none of this guarantees Sweat wants out or the Cardinals will be willing to move him. If the 29-year-old edge-rusher is made available, though, these seven teams should be very interested in trying to acquire him.

Assessing Sweat's Trade Value

AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Josh Sweat

Before diving into which teams should be interested in Sweat, it's worth examining what the Cardinals could realistically ask for in a deal.

Pass-rushers are typically in demand, and, in a vacuum, Sweat should interest most teams in need of a pass rush. However, he will turn 30 next spring and has only reached double-digit sacks in two of his eight pro seasons—though he logged 55 over his last five.

Sweat doesn't have the same long-term upside as Jaelan Phillips, who was traded for a third-round pick at last year's deadline. His value is further diminished by the fact that edge-defenders like Joey Bosa, Von Miller, Kyle Van Noy, Jadeveon Clowney, and Leonard Floyd are still available and free to sign without any trade compensation.

On the flip side, Sweat has three years left on a four-year, $76.4 million contract. The Cardinals could save $10.9 million by trading him after June 1, but they'd also trigger a $31.8 million dead-cap hit—and trading Sweat before June 1 would cost an additional $5.6 million in 2026 cap space.

Arizona isn't likely to eat that much dead money without getting a reasonable return for Sweat. They're likely to start the bidding at the same third-round price that the Philadelphia Eagles paid for a half-season of Phillips, even if teams aren't eager to match.

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 4th-round pick that can become a 3rd-rounder based on statistical thresholds.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Montez Sweat

The Chicago Bears won the NFC North this past season despite having a defense that produced just 35 sacks as a unit. They have done little to upgrade their pass rush this offseason, though not due to a lack of effort.

The Athletic's Dan Wiederer reported in April that the Bears had interest in Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby, albeit not at the same price point as the Baltimore Ravens:

"While the Bears were linked to that Crosby storyline for weeks, with speculation swirling that they, too, had offered Las Vegas a pair of first-round picks, that wasn't the case, a league source told The Athletic."

We know that the Ravens ultimately voided the trade they had in place with Las Vegas and pivoted to Trey Hendrickson in free agency. We also know that the Bears still need a high-end complement to Montez Sweat on the edge.

Could Chicago make another run at Crosby before the regular season? Sure, but if Josh Sweat becomes available, he might be a more-enticing budget alternative.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/David Dermer

Joe Burrow

The Cincinnati Bengals made a blockbuster trade shortly before the draft, sending the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, some believe that the deal may have been a move to ensure quarterback Joe Burrow stays in Cincinnati.

"This is considered to be a hugely significant season for Joe Burrow and his future in Cincinnati," Schefter wrote. "If the Bengals cannot turn it around, some have speculated about whether Burrow might wonder whether he is better off playing in another NFL city."

Since the Bengals are willing to attack the 2026 season aggressively, they should also take a long look at Sweat if he becomes available. Cincinnati did sign Boye Mafe in free agency, but it also lost Hendrickson to the rival Ravens.

Myles Murphy led the Bengals with just 5.5 sacks last season, and Cincinnati's defense recorded just 34 quarterback takedowns in total. In 2025, Sweat had more sacks than Murphy and Mafe combined.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Jerome Miron

James Houston

Just before the start of the 2025 season, the Dallas Cowboys traded away star pass-rusher Micah Parsons. They then went on to record 34 combined sacks and field the league's worst scoring defense.

Now, Dallas has taken steps to rebuild its pass rush this offseason, trading for Rashan Gary before drafting Malachi Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham. However, with Clowney still unsigned, James Houston is the Cowboys' most productive returning edge-rusher.

Houston logged 5.5 sacks in 2025.

While Gary, Houston, and the rookies may make for a functional edge rotation, the Cowboys shouldn't leave anything to chance. With an offense that ranked second overall in 2025, they're poised to make a run now, but their opportunities could be dwindling.

Dak Prescott will turn 33 in July, and last year's breakout star, receiver George Pickens, is set to play on the franchise tag. If Sweat becomes available, adding him would help Dallas get the most out of its 2026 campaign.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

Aidan Hutchinson

The Detroit Lions have one star pass-rusher in Aidan Hutchinson. However, they've lacked a high-end complement over the past couple of seasons and have tried filling that role with journeymen like Marcus Davenport, Za'Darius Smith, and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Muhammad recorded 11 sacks last season and combined with Hutchinson for 24.5 of Detroit's 48 total sacks. However, he also departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.

The Lions have tried to reload their edge rotation this offseason. They signed Payton Turner and D.J. Wonnum before drafting Derrick Moore in Round 2. However, none of them are as proven at the NFL level as Sweat is.

Adding Sweat would give Detroit the sort of dependable edge presence it has lacked opposite Hutchinson. He'd be an ideal replacement for Muhammad and would help the Lions tremendously in their quest to return to the postseason in 2026.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Micah Parsons

There are several reasons why the Green Bay Packers should be interested in adding Sweat if he becomes available. The first is the reality that star edge-rusher Micah Parsons is recovering from a torn ACL and might not be at 100 percent to start the season.

"Obviously there's a process, and the medical (staff) has to feel really good about it before we put a guy back out there coming off that significant of an injury," head coach Matt LaFleur said in March, per The Athletic's Matt Schneidman.

Secondly, the Packers traded Gary to the Cowboys early in the offseason after recording just 36 sacks as a team in 2025. No edge player other than Parsons and Gary recorded more than 2.0 sacks for Green Bay last season.

Lastly, Sweat would be a terrific schematic fit for the Packers. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was Sweat's head coach in Arizona last season and coached him for two seasons before that as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Harold Landry III

The New England Patriots are widely expected to execute one noteworthy trade in the coming weeks. They have been heavily linked to Eagles receiver A.J. Brown and are viewed as his most likely destination—though NFL Media's Ian Rapoport recently cautioned against calling it a guarantee.

"Once you get past June 1, the window is basically open for whenever these two sides can get to a deal. I don't get there's a sense there's a secret deal where they hit the button and say 'OK go,'" Rapoport said on NFL Network (beginning at the 55-second mark).

While the Patriots are busy monitoring things with Brown, they should also have an eye on Sweat.

While New England made a stunning push to Super Bowl LX this past season, it didn't exactly benefit from an elite pass rush. The Patriots' defense recorded just 34 sacks, 7.5 of which came from K'Lavon Chaisson, who is now with the Washington Commanders.

The Patriots are bringing back sack leader Harold Landry III (8.5 sacks), added Dre'Mont Jones in free agency, and used a second-round pick on Gabe Jacas. If they hope to make another Super Bowl run in 2026, though, they'd be wise to round out the rotation with Sweat.

Philadelphia Eagles

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Jalyx Hunt

The Eagles recorded a respectable 42 sacks in 2025, but they didn't have any one defender who could consistently win on the edge one-on-one. Jalyx Hunt led the team with just 6.5 sacks.

Philly's lack of a consistent pass rush is why the team was willing to part with a third-round pick for a half-season of Phillips. It's why the Eagles should make a play to bring Sweat back into the fold now.

Sweat, a 2018 fourth-round pick, spent his first seven seasons in Philadelphia before leaving for Arizona in free agency. He had eight regular-season sacks and another 2.5 sacks in the playoffs during Philadelphia's 2024 Super Bowl run.

While the Eagles did trade a pair of third-round picks to acquire Jonathan Greenard during the draft, they could use more help on the edge. A reunion with Sweat could be just what Philly needs to restore its defense to the championship form it had a couple of years ago.