Cardinals Should Trade Josh Sweat
By Walter Mitchell
Because if they do not trade him, as history overwhelmingly suggests, the Josh Sweat scenario is not going to end well for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have been down this road before in trying to appease players who only want to play on their own terms.
Patrick Peterson
DeAndre Hopkins
Kyler Murray
Name one scenario where a Cardinals' player has asked to be traded where, by forcing the player to stay, it turned out well for team?
Holding players to double standards ruins the morale of football teams.
That has never been so evident as it was with the Kyler Murray saga.
Name a scenario where a Cardinals' diva scrubbed his socials of all things Cardinals'-related and the scenario wound up working in the team's favor.
In case anyone is still waffling in a state of utter denial --- when a player scrubs his socials it's a clear sign the player already has one foot out the door.
Josh Sweat hasn't scrubbed his socials like Patrick Peterson and Kyler Murray did, nor did DeAndre Hopkins --- but both Sweat and Hopkins were only interested in playing on their own terms.
Sweat asked to be traded the day that Jonathan Gannon was fired. That has been corroborated by the Arizona media.
Hopkins wanted out so bad that in 2022 he skipped the last two games, even after he was suspended the first 6 games during the season for PED violations. The utter gall. No conscience.
Players with one foot out of the door never play to their maximum abilities. Because when push comes to shove --- when a player is not "all in" --- he is not apt to make the physical or mental sacrifices of putting themselves on the line and going that extra mile that separates winners from losers.
For football players to play at the highest of levels, they have to feel an all-encompassing sense of being "all in."
When football players are "all in," they are eager and willing to make the physical and mental sacrifices that winning football requires --- not just for themselves ---but even more so --- for their brothers. So much so, that in alpha ballers it becomes second nature.
Compromising the Head Coach's Integrity
What Steve Keim and Monti Ossenfort completely miscalculated is how allowing for the double standards that they gave to star players compromises the integrity and gravitas of their head coaches.
Keim and Ossenfort have said the exact same thing about DeAndre Hopkins and Josh Sweat with regard to missing practices --- "he knows his body and he'll be ready come game day."
When the GM allows for double standards, then the head coaches are forced to follow suit.
Sure, this week Mike LaFleur doubled down by saying he is absolutely certain that Josh Sweat will be raring to go Week 1.
What else can he say?
This is one of the worst possible compromises that a new head coach has to cope with. Because he has to act like he's ok with it. No respectable coach on planet earth is ok with players missing practices.
The problem for LaFleur and Josh Sweat's teammates is that football is a team sport. Whenever players are not on the field that is to the detriment of the team. Playing excellent football requires excellent coordination and communication. It requires the players on each of the three phases of the team to be perfectly well rehearsed.
Josh Sweat has not been on the field during practices.
Did Calais Campbell ever stick to his lonesome in the clubhouse while his brothers were out on the field busting their asses?
The Rams are on the verge of re-signing Aaron Donald. Does anyone think Aaron Donald is going to go into a shell and then reappear for Week 1?
No Sweat
Let's be honest about Josh Sweat. Yes, he was by far the team's best pass rusher. But there were too many times versus the run and in pass coverage where his effort and the level of his play looked half-hearted. And this is before he had one foot out of the door. Plus, Josh Sweat's QBR in pass coverage was an abysmal 148.8.
Do you know that aside from Josh Sweat's 12 sacks, which do not count as tackles, in 17 games and 540 snaps, he merely made 11 solo tackles and 7 assists for the entire season? By contrast, the Rams' third-year Pro Bowl edge Byron Young, who also had 12 sacks for the 2025 season amassed 53 tackles and 20 assists to boot.
Total 2025 Tackles:
Byron Young --- 83 total.
Josh Sweat --- 18 total.
The Cardinals would be better served as team to have an edge who gives his all on every snap. When all 11 players on a defense are giving their all on every snap, great things often happen. When guys take plays off --- you can, as they say at The Badda Bing, "Fuggetta bout it."
Cash and Cap Considerations --- Here Cardinals Go Again
Cap Hits for Josh Sweat:
2026 --- $16.3M
2027 --- $23.6M
2028 --- $23.6M
If the Cardinals cannot trade Josh Sweat this off-season and want to move on from his contract, the dead cap hit is $16.5M.
So, what opportunistic NFL team in 2027 is going to profit from having the Cardinals pay $16.5M of his salary?
As Yogi Berra would say, "This is like deja vu all over again."
Yogi also advised, "When you come to the fork in the road --- take it!"
Six Trade Proposals:
1. Josh Sweat to the Cowboys for Donovan Ezeiruaku. Eze's motor is relentless.
2. Josh Sweat to the Bucs for Vita Vea. (Then make a trade for the Giants' Keyvon Thibodeaux)
3. Josh Sweat to the Eagles for Nolan Smith and a 2027 5th round pick. Smith needs a splash season.
4. Josh Sweat to the Ravens for Tavius Robinson or Mike Green and a 2027 4th round pick. Upside.
5. Josh Sweat to the Jets for Will MacDonald IV and a 4th round pick. Use MacDonald as a designated edge rusher on passing downs.
6. Per the Dairyland Express: Proposed Josh Sweat trade addresses Packers biggest remaining need (dairylandexpress.com)
Arizona Cardinals
Green Bay PackersRed Rain Questions:
Do any of these trades appeal to you?
Do you think it would be wise for the Cardinals to trade Josh Sweat?
Please enter your answers.
Sweat's four-year, $76.4M deal has one detail that matters — 2026 is his last guaranteed year, nothing's locked after it. That's exactly why teams are calling. He asked out the day Gannon was fired, skipped the offseason program, and is clearly miserable going from a Super Bowl to 3-14. He's about to turn 30 on a team pointed at a 2027 first-round quarterback. A disgruntled vet on a rebuild is a wasting asset — and forcing these guys to stay has burned this franchise every time.
ReplyDeleteTrade him for a real second or a premium third, no hesitation. For a fourth? Keep him, let a motivated player rack up sacks in a contract year, and let a contender's deadline panic set your price instead of you setting theirs.
"Trade Sweat" and "trade Sweat for whatever's on the table right now" are two very different arguments. Move him for value — don't dump him for relief. He's been a punk and a disgruntled asshole everywhere he's played -in college too. Personally, I won't miss this guy.
Good details and compelling arguments, Sam! One detail to add, while he's still due $16.5M of his guaranteed money in 2027, he has a $3M guaranteed injury compensation clause for 2027.
DeleteI would trade him for Vita straight up for two reasons. First, this team won’t win more than 3 wins and most likely be swept in the division again especially if Bidwill makes HC start the rookie QB for multiple games. 2. I am not sold on Nolan yet. He could go down as an often injured potential bust or, learn from Vita how to be a pro and kick ass. But realistically trade him for a 2nd rd pick and maybe the new DC next season will have a chance at young rush end in the second round.
ReplyDeleteI think should pay homage to the Greatest Cardinal in the last 50 years in Larry. The dude was dependable, changed his young diva path with help from BAs boot and became everything a franchise would want in a player on and off the field. It’s just too bad he has to be in a Cardinals uniform in Canton.
Happy HOF Game Day!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Cowboys, Bucs, Eagles or Jets would probably make those trades. The Baltimore one I think is a fair deal for both sides, and Baltimore can get that pair alongside Hendrickson. The Packers deal is the better thought process for me, because they are probably better off biting the bullet and just getting the draft picks. You can always trade for Kavon Thibodeaux or another guy later on down the line
If they do trade Sweat, I would assume it's more likely at the Trade Deadline once teams have a better understanding of whether they buy or sell
DeleteIf an player no longer wishes to play for an organization (Cardinals) it is best to get what value you can in trade before you are forced to cut that player. A single (disgruntled) player can completely ruin the morale of a team. Remove the cancer before it spreads. So if you find Sweat is not putting for the effort (his effort in 2025 ran hot/cold). What can we epect in 2026 with his request for a trade. I was in favor of moving him before draft, I would not be opposed now either. But with Ossenfort being Bidwills' mouthpiece I have no faith they have a real plan for how to handle these situations (ie. Murray). I think Kyle may be right they may nto get value they want until trade deadline.
ReplyDeleteI'm always leery of trading for players if you're not immediately contending because you're just asking for the player you acquire to be disgruntled himself.
ReplyDeleteThe Packers trade seems most likely. One thing I'd try to change about that proposal is instead of Sweat for a 2nd and 3rd, I'd try to get the Eagles 1st that Green Bay owns, even if that means throwing a 2nd or 3rd back to GB in the deal. It is supposed to be a pretty deep draft for edge players so that extra 1st might allow the Cards to replace Sweat anyway.
If we can get a second or third pick, I say pull the trigger!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree on moving Sweat. Have said it for a while now. Those tackles are an example of why I said he didn't give it 100% until he wanted a sack. Was not impressed at all.
ReplyDelete