Cardinals Field Josh Sweat Trade Calls After Gannon Exit

One year after signing defensive end Josh Sweat to a four-year, $76.4 million deal, the Arizona Cardinals have reportedly received trade calls for the veteran edge-rusher. Rumors swirl that Sweat’s unhappiness in Arizona traces back to the offseason firing of

When the Arizona Cardinals’ phones start lighting up with trade calls for a defensive end who only arrived a year ago, it changes the temperature around the roster quickly.

Just one year after signing Josh Sweat to a four-year. $76.4 million deal. the Cardinals have received trade calls for the defensive end. a development described by NFL reporter Jordan Schultz. The chatter hits harder because it comes with a clear timeline: Sweat’s new contract began after he left the Philadelphia Eagles. and it arrives after the offseason shake-up that cost Jonathan Gannon his job in Arizona.

Last week, Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard reported that Sweat wasn’t happy in Arizona. Schultz added that Sweat had a close relationship with former head coach Jonathan Gannon. who was fired in the offseason and replaced by Mike LaFleur. That pairing wasn’t new. Sweat and Gannon were together with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2021-22 seasons, when Gannon served as the defensive coordinator.

Gannon’s next stop is already set. He is now the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.

On Tuesday, Jenny Venerable of PHNX Sports reported that Sweat previously requested a trade after Gannon’s firing.

The on-field case for any move is straightforward: Sweat has been productive enough that teams would notice quickly. He spent his first seven NFL seasons in Philadelphia. appearing in 104 games and totaling 43 sacks. 54 tackles for loss. and 97 quarterback hits. That production led to the big contract last offseason. and he delivered right away with 12 sacks. 13 tackles for loss. 17 quarterback hits. four forced fumbles. one fumble recovery. and two passes defensed.

Under normal NFL roster thinking. the “when” matters as much as the “if.” It wouldn’t be a shock if Arizona moved Sweat after June 1. when the cap ramifications would be far more manageable. For a rebuilding team, adding more future draft capital would make sense. Plenty of teams would be interested in a veteran edge-rusher with Sweat’s pedigree.

Still, this wouldn’t be a casual subtraction. If the Cardinals trade Sweat. they’d be considering how much it weakens their defense at a moment when they may be evaluating every piece for the long haul. It won’t be a surprise if he’s ultimately moved. though the Cardinals may not be inclined to weaken their defense with such a trade.

The thread running through all of it is timing—Gannon’s firing. Sweat’s reported request. and now the trade calls arriving just as the business side of the offseason starts to get easier after June 1. For Arizona, the question isn’t whether the interest exists. It’s whether the team is willing to turn that interest into draft capital and accept what would come with moving a player who has already matched the expectations of his contract.