Cardinals Suddenly Face A Josh Sweat Decision They Didn't Expect

The Arizona Cardinals are rumored to be in talks with the Dallas Cowboys for a potential trade involving outside linebacker Josh Sweat as they assess their options amidst a challenging season.

The Arizona Cardinals may not be done dealing away big names, and Josh Sweat is suddenly the player to watch.

Sweat opened the 2026 season while working through an injury, but his last few weeks have pointed in a better direction. He has picked up two sacks over his last three games, and after posting 12 sacks in 2025, he’s getting closer to the form that made him such an appealing name in the first place.

That matters because Arizona could be at a crossroads. Jeremy Fowler reported that the Cardinals may be open to moving Sweat if the return makes sense, even after general manager Monti Ossenfort said in August that the team was not interested in dealing him. Fowler noted that the change in record could alter the conversation.

"Josh Sweat: The Arizona Cardinals already have shown they are willing to trade a player for the right price. In August, general manager Monti Ossenfort said the Cardinals were not interested in trading Sweat. But now the Cardinals are 2-4, and unless they turn it around, they could be willing to listen to meaningful offers," he wrote.

He then identified one team that could get involved near the Nov. 10 deadline.

"One team that could explore the possibility of a Sweat trade is the Cowboys, who are trying to salvage their season Monday night in Philadelphia."

Dallas is still hunting for edge-rush help after trading Micah Parsons last season, and the need is obvious. The Cowboys have been linked to splashy moves before, and owner Jerry Jones has never been shy about taking a swing if he thinks it can fix a problem.

There’s also familiarity on the Cowboys’ side. They spent years preparing for Sweat when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles before he came to Arizona last season. That makes him a name Dallas knows well, not some mystery rental from the other side of the league.

Sweat’s path in Arizona has been uneven this year. He did not take part in OTAs, minicamp, training camp or preseason, but he has been active in every regular-season game. Through six games, he has 14 tackles and those two sacks.

The Cardinals have kept saying they are not looking to move him, but the contract situation keeps the conversation alive. Sweat is in the second year of a four-year, $76 million deal, and there is no guaranteed money in the final two seasons, 2027 and 2028. He is also seeking a new deal.

League buzz around Arizona suggests the asking price could be a second-round pick, which would mirror the type of return the Cardinals got for Marvin Harrison Jr. Sweat is 29, and his knee history is part of the equation too.

A move could still wait until next offseason, but if Arizona does put him on the market, the deadline might be the moment his value is highest. His play has been trending upward, and if that continues, the timing only gets more favorable for a team looking to cash in.

And if the Cowboys really are the team to watch, they’ll get a direct look at Arizona in Week 8.

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