Latest trade rumors suddenly open realistic path for Packers to add missing piece to Super Bowl window
Cardinals look more willing than ever to trade edge defender Josh Sweat, and he would be the perfect addition to Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
The Green Bay Packers have invested a lot in the edge defender position. Just between Micah Parsons and Lukas Van Ness, there are three first-round picks plus a massive amount of money. Still, that’s the position with the most pressing need ahead of the 2026 season, considering that Parsons is expected to miss a few games.
But the latest trade rumor around the NFL creates a perfect scenario where Green Bay can address it with a viable solution.
Josh Sweat is an intriguing trade target
If the Arizona Cardinals end up willing to trade edge defender Josh Sweat one year after signing him in free agency, the Packers have all the reasons to be all over it.
While the 2027 draft class is considered to be good, the Packers are projected to have 11 picks — moving a mid-rounder to solve the edge defender issue is probably worth it. In terms of money, the trade would also be feasible.
Right now, the Packers have $18.2 million in cap space. Sweat is slated to make $18.1 million in each of the next three years, so there’s just enough room to absorb his contract, then the Packers would have the ability to restructure his deal to create more room to operate in 2026.
The best part in terms of contract is that Sweat doesn’t have extra guarantees beyond 2026, just $3 million of his 2027 compensation that are guaranteed for injury. So, it would be a reasonable investment with a clear window to get out of it after 2026 if Parsons gets fully healthy and Van Ness takes a step forward.
Perfect scheme fit
There is an obvious connection between Josh Sweat and Packers new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Sweat played under Gannon on the Philadelphia Eagles, and they reached a Super Bowl together, and then the edge defender signed with Gannon’s Cardinals last offseason to a four-year, $76.4 million contract.
Under Gannon, Sweat had three of his four most productive seasons in the NFL in terms of sacks, including the two top ones — 11 sacks in 2022, 12 sacks last season.
Josh Sweat, a former fourth-round pick, has had at least 40 pressures in each of the past five seasons. In 2025, he had 47, plus 20 stops.
The Cardinals don’t have a huge motivation to keep Sweat, even though they signed him last year. It’s a different head coach now, despite the fact that they kept defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, and the Cardinals are clearly starting a new process to rebuild the roster.
Getting some type of compensation for a 29-year-old player in this scenario doesn’t look like a bad idea. And for the Packers, adding an experienced and productive edge defender who knows the system and wouldn’t be prohibitively expensive is the perfect move for their Super Bowl window.