Josh Sweat has been one of the names circling the NFL trade deadline chatter, but the growing sense around the league is that the Arizona Cardinals may just keep him.
The deadline hits at 4 p.m. ET this coming Tuesday, and Sweat has been linked for weeks to possible movement, including speculation that Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones could try to land him as a late push to upgrade his defense.
But in a Fox Sports piece published Thursday, Ralph Vacchiano and Eric D. Williams said they surveyed league sources to gauge where players like Sweat might wind up - and the read on Arizona was that a deal may not happen.
“I don’t think they’re going to trade him,” Vacchiano wrote about the Cardinals and Sweat. “The Cardinals are building a nice base for the future, and Sweat is signed through 2028 and young enough (29) to be a part of that. And given his interest in getting paid more, I don’t think they’ll get an offer they can’t refuse.”
That comment lines up with earlier reporting this week that Sweat “would prefer a new deal as part of a trade - or at least a sweetener, such as a raise on his $18.1M salary this year or next.” Jones also said Tuesday that he didn’t “see anything” available when asked about a major addition before the deadline.
There are still teams that could be lurking for pass-rushing help after the weekend, including the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. Even so, Williams also landed on the same conclusion: Sweat stays in Arizona.
“I think the Cardinals stand pat and keep Sweat,” Williams added. “He’s a good fit for defensive coordinator Nick Rallis and is playing under a reasonable contract. Pass-rushers can play productive football into their mid-30s, and Sweat could be part of Arizona’s rebuilding effort starting in 2027 when they likely draft a franchise quarterback.”
The Cardinals’ own situation also points toward holding rather than selling. They’re 3-5 under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, and after recently benching Jacoby Brissett for Gardner Minshew II, they don’t appear eager to give up on the rest of the season. For now, that makes it sound like Sweat will be in uniform when Arizona visits the 4-4 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday - and likely beyond the deadline, too.
In Other News...
Cardinals Deadline Approach Is Raising Big Questions About This Roster
As the deadline nears, the Cardinals are still sorting through what kind of roster they want to be for the stretch run, and the conversation around them has only gotten louder. Arizona has already been linked to a quarterback move with Jacoby Brissett expected to be finalized soon, while head coach Mike LaFleur also said running back James Conner will not return this week, leaving the offense with more short-term uncertainty than the team would like.
The bigger question is what Arizona does with its veteran talent on the other side of the ball. The Cardinals have been seeking significant value for edge rusher Josh Sweat, and league chatter has also kept safety Budda Baker in the trade conversation as Tuesday approaches, a sign that this front office may still be weighing whether to add around the margins or take a harder look at the long-term picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Head To Seattle Already Facing A Costly Lineup Problem
The Cardinals head into their Week 9 trip to Seattle already shorthanded, with running back Bam Knight, tackle Jayden Williams and guard Jon Gaines all ruled out because of injuries. Mike LaFleur said none of the three practiced during the week, leaving Arizona to sort through its depth before the official injury report comes out after practice and to keep an eye on a few other banged-up players as well.
It is the kind of availability issue that can shape a game plan before kickoff, especially on the road against a division opponent. Seattle will be starting Drew Lock at quarterback in place of the injured Sam Darnold, but Arizona still has to piece together its own lineup on both sides of the ball, and the final answers up front could matter just as much as anything the Seahawks do under center. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Seahawks Injury Situation That Could Change Everything
Seattles first full practice of the week brought a long injury report and a little more clarity for a matchup that already had plenty of moving parts. The Seahawks listed 17 players on their second report, including six starters, while Arizona also had several players either not participating or limited as both teams started to narrow their focus toward Sunday.
The biggest developments came on Seattles side, where Ernest Jones IV and Derick Hall were added to the report as not practicing, even as guard Anthony Bradford moved to full participation. For the Cardinals, the report only added to the uncertainty around a game that could be shaped as much by who is available as by anything that happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]