With the Nov. 10 trade deadline closing in, Josh Sweat has started to look like one of the more interesting names to watch. ESPN reported that the Arizona Cardinals pass rusher is drawing interest around the league, and the list of possible landing spots already includes a few teams that could use help off the edge.
Arizona’s record makes the situation easy to read. At 2-5 entering Week 8 and sitting last in the NFC West, the Cardinals are being viewed as a possible seller. They already moved former first-round wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans, and Sweat could be the next veteran on the move if the team decides to chase future draft capital.
Sweat is under contract through 2028 after signing a four-year, $76.4 million deal with Arizona in 2025. But according to Over The Cap, there is no guaranteed salary left after the 2026 season. That detail only adds to the speculation as teams keep checking on his availability.
The 29-year-old’s path to this point has been a productive one. Philadelphia drafted him in the fourth round in 2018 out of Florida State, and he spent his first seven seasons with the Eagles. He made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and was part of the Super Bowl LIX team that beat Kansas City, a game in which he had 2.5 sacks.
His first year in Arizona was his best as a pass rusher. In 2025, Sweat posted a career-high 12 sacks and added 17 quarterback hits. This season, through seven games, he has two sacks, four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss.
Even before the deadline chatter, Sweat’s future in Arizona already felt unsettled. He reportedly asked for a trade after head coach Jonathan Gannon was fired last offseason. Gannon had coached him as defensive coordinator in Philadelphia, but the Cardinals front office turned down the request at the time.
Now, with the deadline approaching and Arizona trending toward seller status, teams are again asking the question: is Sweat actually available?
Dallas is one of the clubs to keep an eye on. ESPN’s report specifically mentioned the Cowboys as a team in the mix, and Jerry Jones has been aggressive over the last year in trying to upgrade his defense. The latest move came with a trade for Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr., and adding Sweat would be another swing at fixing a unit that has struggled badly.
The numbers in Dallas are ugly. Entering Week 8, the Cowboys are tied for third-most total yards allowed per game at 373.7, second-most rushing yards allowed per game at 145.7, last in opponent third-down conversion rate at 52.% and 30th in takeaways with four. Their pass rush has also lagged, with the team tied for the fourth-fewest sacks in the league and sitting in the bottom 10 in pressures.
Green Bay is another possibility, though the fit is a little different. The Packers already have Lukas Van Ness on the edge and are set to get back Micah Parsons soon, so the immediate need is not as obvious as it is for some other teams. They also own a 7.2% sack rate, which just cracks the top 10, and a 36.1% pressure rate that lands in the middle of the pack.
What makes Green Bay stand out is Jonathan Gannon. He is the Packers’ current defensive coordinator, and his history with Sweat is obvious.
Gannon coached him in Philadelphia and then again in Arizona after taking over as head coach. That connection could matter if Green Bay decides to make a move, especially with Chicago having already made a blockbuster trade for Jeffery Simmons earlier this week.
Buffalo rounds out the group of potential suitors, and the case there is built around urgency. The Bills are 5-1 and sitting atop the AFC East while Josh Allen leads the NFL in total touchdowns with 17. But the defense has been a problem, ranking 30th in points allowed per game at 28.5, 27th on third down at 45%, 31st in penalties per game at 3.7 and last in points allowed per drive at 2.76.
The pass rush has not been enough either. Buffalo is 20th in pressure rate and 27th in sack rate, which leaves room for a player like Sweat to matter quickly. With the playoff race coming into focus, a veteran edge rusher with double-digit sack upside would make sense for a team trying to push through the AFC field.
In Other News...
Bills Face A Trade Deadline Debate Over One Proven Pass Rusher
With the NFL trade deadline drawing closer, the market for proven edge help is starting to take shape, and Arizonas Josh Sweat has emerged as one of the more interesting names to watch. Recent deals by the Colts and Titans have only added to the sense that teams are willing to move early if they see a chance to shore up a weakness, and Sweats recent performance and injury status have kept him in the conversation as clubs weigh whether he can be the kind of pass rusher who changes a defense.
For teams with playoff ambitions, the appeal is obvious. Buffalo, Dallas and Kansas City all make sense on paper because each has reasons to keep searching for more pressure off the edge, and Sweat fits the profile of a player who could help right away if the price is right. For now, though, it remains a matter of interest and speculation rather than a confirmed deal, which is exactly why the next few days could be busy for Arizona as the deadline picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiyah Loves Return Leaves One Big Cardinals Question
Jeremiyah Love is back in the mix for Arizona just in time for a Week 8 matchup with Dallas, giving the Cardinals a boost in the backfield after he missed the last two games with an ankle injury. The rookie has already been a meaningful part of the offense this season, playing nearly half of Arizona's offensive snaps, and his return should help restore some stability to a rushing rotation that has had to adjust without him.
What makes Love's comeback worth watching is not just whether he is active, but how the Cardinals handle his workload after the layoff. He is expected to split time in the backfield, and Arizona will have to balance getting one of its most useful young weapons back on the field while making sure the ankle issue does not become a longer-term concern. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Raised The Stakes For Brian Schottenheimer
Jerry Jones used the aftermath of the Cowboys loss to the Cardinals to make one thing clear: Brian Schottenheimer is not going anywhere during the season. The owner defended his head coach and pushed back on the idea that the blame for Dallas uneven play should land on one person, a notable stance given how quickly the conversation around the job can turn in a market like that.
For Arizona, it adds another layer to a win that already carried weight, because the Cardinals helped deepen the pressure around a division rival still trying to find traction under Schottenheimer in his second year. Dallas has struggled to stack wins and has faced steady criticism over its lack of progress, but Jones comments suggest the bigger reckoning may come later, with more than one voice in the organization now tied to how the season is judged. [Read more 🡒]