The Chicago Bears still look like a team that could use one more edge rusher, and Josh Sweat keeps popping up as a name that makes sense.
Chicago has plenty to sort through over the next couple of weeks, with the trade deadline looming as the most obvious pressure point. If the Bears are in the mix and serious about chasing a Super Bowl, adding help on the defensive front feels like a move they’d be expected to make.
Sweat is near the top of the available options. He’s been one of the better quarterback hunters around over the past few years, and that kind of production would fit what Chicago needs. One trade idea would send him to the Bears for a relatively modest return: a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick going back to the Arizona Cardinals.
Bears Get: Edge Josh Sweat
Cardinals Get: Conditional 2027 4th-Round Pick
“Though he was the topic of trade speculation early in the offseason, the Arizona Cardinals are reportedly uninterested in moving pass-rusher Josh Sweat. Arizona will likely change its stance on trading players if and when it becomes clear that it can't contend in 2026-or if it becomes obvious that rookie quarterback Carson Beck isn't a franchise savior.
“Sweat will turn 30 next offseason and looms as a potential 2027 cap casualty. Moving him for quality draft capital would make sense. Giving up a conditional pick that could become a Day-2 selection for Sweat would be logical for a contender like the Chicago Bears,” Kristopher Knox of BR wrote.
A deal at that price would be hard for Chicago to ignore. Even if the cost climbed to a third-round pick, there’s a clear argument for the Bears to make the move. Sweat would give them a proven pass-rushing presence and a real boost on defense.
In Other News...
Cardinals Captain Choices Just Revealed A New Locker Room Reality
The Cardinals have settled on their leadership group for the 2026 regular season, with players casting the votes that put Jacoby Brissett, Hjalte Froholdt, Mack Wilson, Budda Baker and Casey Kreiter in the captain roles. For a team trying to build a steadier identity inside the locker room, the choices offer a clear snapshot of who teammates trust to set the tone, handle the noise and keep things organized once the season starts.
Mike LaFleur pointed to the leadership qualities of the group after the announcement, underscoring how much weight the room placed on those selections. The mix of names also says something about where the Cardinals are trying to lean, with established voices and steady presences across different parts of the roster now tasked with carrying more than just their own assignments. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Camp Has One Encouraging Sign Fans Still Need To Monitor
Mike LaFleur liked enough of what he saw from his wide receiver room to single it out during camp, and for an offense that spent much of the offseason under a microscope, that kind of early positivity matters. Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. drew favorable mention as well, while the coaching staff earned a nod for helping the group settle in, giving Arizona at least one encouraging checkpoint as the preseason runway keeps shortening.
The more practical question for the Cardinals is how quickly the rest of the offense catches up, especially with Jeremiyah Love still working back from a high-ankle sprain. Camp praise is useful, but it only goes so far if the pieces around that receiver group remain in flux, which is why the next stretch of practices will tell a lot about whether this early confidence turns into something sturdier. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Depth Chart Just Raised A Big Week 1 Backfield Question
Unofficial Week 1 depth charts always invite a second look, and the Cardinals version is no exception. Arizona listed Tyler Allgeier ahead of rookie Jeremiyah Love at running back, a notable wrinkle for a team trying to sort out roles early in the season and a reminder that the first chart of September is often more conversation starter than final answer.
Coaches around the league offered their own explanations for a few eye-openers, with injury status and strategic planning factoring into the bigger picture. Still, the Cardinals backfield ordering is the one that stands out most for their fans, because it raises an immediate question about how quickly Love will be asked to move from promising newcomer to featured part of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
