Latest report throws a bucket of cold water on Packers’ most desirable trade option ahead of the regular season
Green Bay hasn’t had serious conversations with the Arizona Cardinals in regards to Josh Sweat, and it seems like Brian Gutekunst won’t go after the edge rusher.
The Green Bay Packers are not trading for Arizona Cardinals edge defender Josh Sweat ahead of the 2026 regular season. That much is clear after The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported that Green Bay has had zero contact with Arizona regarding Sweat, and general manager Brian Gutekunst has no plans to pursue that type of deal.
“Based on what I heard earlier this week, I can confidently say that Josh Swett is not going to be a Packer”, Schneidman said on the podcast ‘Green Bay Beat.’ “Not now, not ever. Brian Gutekunst has not had a single conversation with the Arizona Cardinals about Josh Sweat. And I can say that confidently based on what I’ve been told.”
The Packers would presumably benefit from adding a proven pass rusher to complement their edge defender group, especially early in the season with Micah Parsons still recovering from an ACL injury and expected to miss the first few games. But Green Bay does not appear interested in paying the price required to make it happen.
Why cost and timing make the trade unrealistic
Acquiring Sweat would demand significant compensation on two fronts: draft capital and salary. The Cardinals would likely require a mid-round or even high draft pick in return. On top of that, Sweat is slated to make $18.1 million in each of the next three seasons. The Packers’ actual cash obligation in 2026 would be $10.88 million because Arizona already paid his $7.22 million option bonus back in March, but the cap hit remains substantial.
Even with limited guarantees beyond this season (only $3 million of the 2027 salary is guaranteed for injury), the Packers view the combination of draft pick cost and contract commitment for a 29-year-old player as a poor investment. That calculus fits the Gutekunst philosophy of prioritizing draft and development over expensive veteran acquisitions.
Green Bay comfortable with current rotation
The Packers seem content with the players they already have to fill the early-season void while Parsons works his way back. Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Collin Oliver form the rotation along the edge. Sweat would represent a short-term upgrade over that group, but the front office is unwilling to invest the necessary capital in both draft picks and contract dollars to make that move.
Reporting out of Arizona indicates the Cardinals are not willing to trade Sweat at this point either. They want to compete early in the season. If things go south for the Cardinals, Sweat could potentially become available closer to the trade deadline around the middle of the season. By that point, however, Parsons should be back and healthy, which would eliminate the Packers’ primary reason for pursuing an edge rusher in the first place.
Sweat does have a strong connection with Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon from their shared time both in Philadelphia and Arizona, which fueled speculation about a potential reunion. But a personal connection alone does not override the roster-building principles that have defined Green Bay’s approach under Gutekunst. The Packers are keeping what they have, and Sweat will stay in Arizona for now.
