The pitch for why the Tennessee Titans should inquire about trading for Josh Sweat from the Arizona Cardinals
The Tennessee Titans are in a massive rebuild, but one move could help but the roster over the top to maximize QB Cam Ward’s rookie contract and the young core assembled by Mike Borgonzi.
The Tennessee Titans have undergone a massive transition in the 2026 offseason under GM Mike Borgonzi and new head coach Robert Saleh. There’s been one obvious box that has gone ‘unchecked’ for the multi-year roster build. Josh Sweat could cross it off the list.
The Arizona Cardinals defensive end apparently is drawing interest from other NFL teams, according to Fox Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Sweat signed a four year, $76.4 million free agent contract in March of 2025 after winning the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. It was in Philly where Sweat and Jonathan Gannon, the recently fired Cardinals coach, developed that close relationship Schultz referenced. Gannon was the Eagles defensive coordinator for 2021 and 2022.
In the three NFL seasons the two have spent together, Sweat has averaged 10.1 sacks per season compared to Sweat’s average of 4.9 sacks per season (five years) without Gannon.
Before I lay out the pitch for why the Titans should have interest in Sweat, I’ll note that Schultz’s reports says the Cardinals have received trade calls. We don’t know if they want to trade Sweat. I receive calls every day that I don’t want.
Why the Titans should call about trading for Josh Sweat
This 2026 season is a foundation laying year for the organization under a new coaching staff with a second year, promising quarterback Cam Ward.
The Titans led the NFL in free agent spending this offseason investing heavily in the defense with signings headlined by defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. Offensive investment around Ward includes free agent receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, and fourth overall draft pick receiver, Carnell Tate, who we believe to be a day one impact player.
Overall, the Titans have now one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. Borgonzi’s 2025 draft class, led by Ward, has tremendous upside and will benefit from the fire it was thrown into last season. The 2026 draft class, led by Tate, is filled with similar qualities: team-captain type players whose best football is two seasons away, yet could have a significant impact on 2026 as rookies.
The ‘wide nine’ edge pass rusher is the one multi-year team building investment the franchise only kind of addressed. There’s belief in free agent Josh Martin, who is over 30 years old and coming off a career year, but the proven asset is missing. Borgonzi traded for Jermaine Johnson in February, reuniting the former Jet with Saleh. Johnson is now two years off a torn achilles that halted his NFL development. He could be a bright spot in 2026, but is set to become a free agent after the season.
Would trading for Sweat accelerate the foundational season?
Josh Sweat’s not going to make a difference in win-loss expectations for one year, but in 2027, when Cam Ward and this offense group has a year under their belt of continuity, and now you’ve got Sweat, Jeffrey Simmons, Franklin-Myers leading that defensive front, with Johnson’s 2027 unknown. The 2025 draft class in year three and the 2026 class in year two with this group of veterans makes the Titans roster feel actually complete and ready to compete, for real.
At some point the Titans’ rebuild will advance to a level where it doesn’t want to rely on a rookie or a first year free agent. Josh Sweat could be that missing piece to accelerate the expectations in 2027 before these young pieces approach contract extension needs.
How much would a Josh Sweat trade cost?
Contractually, Sweat has $18.1 million of cash due in each of the next three seasons. Tennessee has the cap space in 2026 and beyond to take that on without much stress. Plus, that price isn’t absurd for high quality pass rusher who is entering his 30s.
What would the trade compensation be? Considering this report is coming out, someone wants it known that:
- 1) another NFL team wants Sweat’s camp to know there’s interest elsewhere
- 2) the Cardinals have gotten calls but want to drive up the price to a level they can’t turn down
- 3) Eagles GM Howie Roseman is up to his game of spinning his chaos creation wheel to see what happens.
Roseman did just trade for former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher, Johnathan Greenard, during NFL Draft for two third round picks. Greenard had back to back 12+ sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, but only got to the QB three times in a weird injury riddled 2025 before shutting it down to have shoulder surgery. Greenard’s new contract in Philly averages over $24 million over four years.
Would the Titans be willing to give up a third round pick for Sweat? The 2027 NFL Draft class is a stud class, but that would then force the Titans to rely on a new face in bigger stakes situation a year from now.