Although he is just one season into a four-year, $76.4MM contract, Cardinals outside linebacker Josh Sweat was the subject of trade rumors during the spring. Teams called the Cardinals about Sweat, but general manager Monti Ossenfort held off on moving him. Ossenfort insists that is not going to change.
Asked if Sweat requested a trade, Ossenfort said Monday (via PHNX Cardinals): ““I’d say [trade] discussions that come by that, there’s always a lot of talk that goes around that. We have no interest in trading Josh. We’re excited to have him. Some of those discussions [we’re] going to keep private, but excited to have Josh here. [He] had a great year last year. Excited for more good things out of him this year.”
Sweat was a key part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX-winning defense in 2024, his seventh year with the franchise, but left after the season to take Arizona’s offer in free agency. The move reunited Sweat with then-Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021-22.
Despite Sweat’s presence, almost everything wound up going haywire for the Cardinals. They tied for the league’s worst record (3-14) and then fired Gannon, but Sweat was one of their few bright spots. While starting all 17 games, Sweat posted career highs in sacks (12) and forced fumbles (four), also adding 13 tackles for loss. He was top 15 in the league in those categories and 30th in pressures (47), per Pro Football Focus.
Aside from Sweat, the rest of the Cardinals’ defense mustered a mere 18 sacks. With a total of 30, they tied for the third fewest in the league. Franchise icon Calais Campbell, who ranked second on the team with 6.5 sacks, then exited to join the Ravens in free agency. Losing Sweat on top of Campbell would leave the Cardinals even worse off up front, but the rebuilding club is widely expected to contend for the No. 1 pick anyway. Arizona is stuck in a minefield of a division that includes the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks, the 2026 Super Bowl favorite Rams, and a formidable 49ers team.
Considering the myriad weaknesses on Arizona’s roster and the strength of its division, there is a good chance the Cardinals will be out of contention when the Nov. 10 trade deadline arrives. Sweat will surely continue to garner interest if he is healthy then, at which point Ossenfort could pull the trigger on a deal. For now, though, Sweat’s health actually is in question.
The Cardinals placed Sweat on the active/physically unable to perform list with a knee injury when they reported to training camp on July 23. Head coach Mike LaFleur suggested it wasn’t serious, but Sweat is still out of action two weeks later. If the 29-year-old is still not ready when the Cardinals finalize their roster on Aug. 30, he will shift to reserve/PUP and miss their first four games. But if we’re to believe Ossenfort, it won’t come to that.
“Josh is making good progress. Josh is getting closer every day,” he told the media. “I think Josh is going to be out there in due time to get ready for the season opener, and we’re excited to get him out there and get him going.”
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