Overview
- Josh Sweat is holding out and has publicly asked for a trade after a career‑best 2025 season, signaling he wants to leave the Arizona Cardinals rather than renegotiate his contract.
- This week several outlets reported trade inquiries and a Packer Report claim that Green Bay was working on a deal, but The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman said Packers GM Brian Gutekunst had not discussed a Sweat trade at this point.
- Multiple teams including the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Eagles, Bears and others have been linked to inquiries, but reports caution phone calls do not equal formal offers.
- Arizona has little urgency to move Sweat because a post‑June 1 transaction would cut the team’s 2026 dead‑cap charge by roughly $10.9 million, giving the Cardinals leverage on timing and compensation.
- Sweat’s 12.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 2025 raise his trade value, but any deal must reconcile his four‑year, $76.4 million contract and retained‑salary or draft‑pick costs, so he may remain with the Cardinals unless an acceptable package materializes.