The Josh Sweat trade rumors are buzzing once again as the star is unhappy with the Arizona Cardinals, but could find a new NFL home before the 2026 campaign. According to Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard, Sweat is not “particularly happy in AZ.” Arizona has one of the busiest offseasons, and could soon trade the defensive star, similar to what will happen to QB Jacoby Brissett. Sweat, a former fourth-round pick, has become one of the most dominant pass-rushers in the league. After becoming a central piece to the Eagles’ win in the Super Bowl, defeating the Kansas City, the star left for Arizona and reunited with former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Glannon.
Despite signing his new deal last offseason, the problem is that he has no guaranteed money, but interestingly, Odegard said it isn’t a contract dispute. However, if last offseason saw anything from Sweat, it was that he was going to get paid. The former Florida State product backed it up, recording a career-high of 12 sacks from last year. The issue is that once they fired Glannon, it was reported that Sweat requested a trade from the squad.
Josh Sweat Trade Rumors: 3 Top Landing Spots for the Unhappy Star
With the team needing to extend Brissett and WR Michael Wilson, it could be difficult. The new regime, Cardinals, would probably prefer extending Wilson before Sweat. The veteran is 29-years-old and has three years left in his current deal. It could be a huge risk financially, especially for a player who is getting older.
Meanwhile, Wilson is still on the younger side, so it’d be realistically easier to trade the veteran defensive star and Brissett. Even if the Cardinals smooth things out with guaranteed money, will he truly be happy in Arizona? Not quite. It might be smarter to trade him to these three teams before the 2026 season.
Next Potential Fits
Green Bay Packers
The most obvious landing spot for the Cardinals’ star. It’s sensible for Sweat to reunite with new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Glannon. Earlier this offseason, the team traded Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys, and with Micah Parsons still recovering, this deal makes perfect sense. Despite the team replacing Gary with Zaire Franklin, the Packers could build the ultimate All-Pro group of linebackers.
It’d be difficult given cap space constraints, but it’s not impossible. Parsons, Franklin and Sweat on one team sounds like a nightmare for other NFC teams.
Chicago Bears
After losing Tremaine Edmunds to New York in free agency, they lost a true locker room leader, and while they signed Devin Bush, there’s still a need for another pass-rusher. With Dayo Odeyingbo coming off a down year and Austin Booker still figuring out his role in this defense, they could use a premier linebacker like Sweat. Booker has some potential, but that’s hardly happening, and Odeyingbo needs a huge leap.
Opposite of Montez Sweat, the two edge-rushers could form one of the most promising duos in a long time since the Brian Urlacher era.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs took a major hit to their linebacker group when they lost Leo Chenal to the Commanders. Despite retaining Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill, there is still a need for another physical pass-rusher. If anyone loves a dominant defense, it’s the Chiefs. With Patrick Mahomes returning from a season-ending injury, he could use all the help he can get from the defense.
Sweat has the championship experience that the Chiefs need to return to win another Lombardi Trophy. Kansas City should probably push for the pass-rusher even though it could be costly, but you do what to do after coming off a season where you missed the playoffs.
