As was the case with disgruntled quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals outside linebacker Josh Sweat reported for mandatory minicamp on Monday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Skipping Day 1 would have subjected Sweat to a $17,986 fine. The total amount for missing all three days checks in at $107,911.
Like Brissett, Sweat was not in attendance for the voluntary portion of the Cardinals’ offseason. That was also the case in 2025, the start of the four-year, $76.4MM contract the ex-Eagle signed in free agency. However, with Sweat now drawing trade interest, there has been speculation he could be on the way out of Arizona soon.
When Sweat hit the open market in March 2025 and chose the Cardinals as his next team, head coach Jonathan Gannon was at the helm. Sweat previously played for Gannon, then the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, from 2021-22. The two have a good rapport, but their second partnership ended when the Cardinals fired Gannon in January and replaced him with Mike LaFleur.
Gannon landed on his feet as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, leading to speculation that they will swing a trade for Sweat. Although Rapoport reported last week that the Cardinals are not dealing Sweat to the Pack or anyone else, Albert Breer of SI.com isn’t ruling out a trade. It is easy to see the fit in Green Bay, which will go without superstar edge defender Micah Parsons for the first several weeks of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL. While there are other contenders that would make sense as Sweat suitors, it is far from a given Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort will part with his best pass rusher.
Ossenfort’s three-year tenure in Arizona has not gone well, evidenced by the team’s dismal 15-36 record, but making a free agent splash on Sweat has worked out. After tallying between six and 11 sacks in each of his last five seasons in Philadelphia, the one-time Pro Bowler notched a career-high 12 in his first year in Arizona. Sweat played his second 17-game season and chipped in 30 tackles (13 TFL), 17 QB hits and a personal-best four forced fumbles. If he opens 2026 with the Cardinals and continues to offer strong production over the first couple months of the season, it is likely teams will come knocking ahead of the Nov. 3 trade deadline.
Along with his quality production, Sweat’s team-friendly contract adds to his appeal. The 29-year-old ranks a reasonable 22nd at his position in average annual salary, and he has no guaranteed money left on his deal beyond the upcoming season.