Former Super Bowl champion tied to Jonathan Gannon emerges as intriguing option for Packers’ newest defensive need
Josh Sweat could complement the Packers’ edge rotation, especially early in the season.
Josh Sweat’s connection with Jonathan Gannon is undeniable. The former fourth-round pick played seven seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles, two of them under Gannon as his defensive coordinator. After winning the Super Bowl in the 2024 season, Sweat signed a free agent contract to go to the Arizona Cardinals — once again, under then head coach Jonathan Gannon.
So now that Gannon is with the Green Bay Packers and the roster potentially needs more depth at edge defender, it’s natural to connect the dots — especially when the Cardinals, by all intents and purposes, seem to be starting a rebuild under new head coach Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother.
How feasible a Josh Sweat trade is for the Packers
Green Bay doesn’t have the draft capital to move big chunks of picks to the Cardinals. But with potentially four compensatory picks coming in 2027, a mid-round pick could certainly be on the table. It’s a matter of how willing the Cardinals would be to pull the trigger — but considering their timeline and the extra cap space, it’s not absurd.
The other big question for the Packers is money. While the Cardinals would retain the proration of the $18.5 million signing bonus paid last year, the acquiring team would absorb $18.1 million in earnings in each of the next three years.
Sweat has a $7.22 million option bonus due on March 20, so presumably the trade would have to be executed before that for it to make sense for the Cardinals. The Packers could convert his option bonus and most of his $9.78 million base salary into a signing bonus, lowering his 2026 cap hit to $5.54 million — however, that would increase his cap hit in 2027 and 2028 to $21.24 million, plus $6.28 million in dead money when the contract voids in 2029.
Theoretically, the Packers should be interested in a solid and experienced edge defender who fits the system — it’s particularly important early in the 2026 season, with Micah Parsons still recovering from an ACL injury. Right now, after trading Rashan Gary, the Packers have Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox, Barryn Sorrell, and Collin Oliver as their main rotational pieces.
The decision, though, is a long-term one. Beyond Micah Parsons’ big salary, the Packers will probably pay Van Ness’ $13.752 million fifth-year option in 2027 — and barring an extension or renegotiation, the entire amount hits the cap next year. Adding a new big salary to the equation isn’t necessarily an easy yes.
Josh Sweat, a 28-year-old player, has had at least 40 pressures in each of his past five seasons. Last year for the Cardinals, he generated 12 sacks and 47 pressures, plus 20 stops.
The Packers have made some investments in older players for the defense this offseason, but trading for Sweat would take this gamble to another level.
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