The Eagles’ path to an NFC East title is thin enough already, and one of the few things that could help them is if a division rival makes a costly mistake. That is why the Dallas Cowboys’ reported interest in Josh Sweat matters.
ESPN reported that sources have linked Dallas to Sweat, the former Eagles edge rusher who is now with the Arizona Cardinals. For Eagles fans, the name still carries some weight. But the player the Cowboys would be chasing is not the same version of Sweat they remember from Philadelphia.
Sweat landed in Arizona on a four-year deal to reconnect with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. In his first season with the Cardinals, he produced a career-high 12 sacks.
Since then, the rise has stalled. Gannon is gone, and Sweat has only two sacks this season.
The production dip shows up in the numbers, too. Pro Football Focus has Sweat 86th out of 113 qualified edge rushers in overall grade and 71st in pressures. That is the kind of profile that can tempt a team to bet on name value and past results, even when the current tape says something else.
Dallas also has a history of being aggressive on the defensive side of the ball, and the roster math could matter here. Moves for players like George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. have already stripped away much of the draft capital the Cowboys could use in a trade. Even so, they may still be willing to pay up for Sweat.
That is where the Eagles’ potential opening comes in. If Dallas empties more of its cupboard for a player who is well past his peak, Philadelphia benefits indirectly.
The Cowboys may be better off sticking with their young duo of Malachi Lawrence and Donovan Ezeiruaku while letting them develop. Their defense needs help, but adding another expensive pass rusher would not solve the run defense or the problems against high-end passing games.
Philadelphia is not exactly sprinting toward the finish line itself. Tanner McKee throwing to Makai Lemon now looks like the backbone of the passing game after Hurts and DeVonta Smith were carrying it weeks ago. Still, the Eagles are not finished yet, and their slim hopes could get a boost if one of their rivals decides to step on a rake.
If Dallas does trade for Sweat, it would be the kind of self-inflicted wound the Cowboys have too often invited on themselves. And if that happens, the Eagles will be ready to take advantage.
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Have A Backfield Problem They Can't Ignore
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Mitchell is now in position to take on a much larger role in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders, with the Eagles needing someone steady enough to help keep the offense on schedule. Blue remains in the mix, but the bigger issue is whether Philadelphia can get enough stability from a unit that has been hit hard at the wrong time. For a team built to lean on balance, the next few days could determine how much flexibility the Eagles really have in the run game. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Look Thin In One Area Before Washington
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Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith were among the names sidelined again, and their continued absence stands out because both are central to what Philadelphia wants to do on offense. Add in the other missed practices and the fact that 14 more players were limited or full participants, and the Eagles are suddenly managing a roster that looks thinner than usual at a key point in the week. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Rough Start Just Reignited The Jalen Hurts Future Debate
A rough stretch has a way of turning every Eagles conversation back to the quarterback position, and Jalen Hurts is once again at the center of it. Hurts is out for the season because of blood clots, though the expectation is that he will recover, and the teams current skid has only added more noise around what comes next for Philadelphia at the games most important spot.
Hurts is still under contract through 2028 and holds a no-trade clause, but the long view is where the uncertainty starts to creep in. With the Eagles future quarterback plans still very much in the speculative stage, the debate has shifted from whether they need to think ahead to how aggressively they might eventually do it. [Read more 🡒]