Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat has turned his slow start around with a solid four-game stretch. It's only added to the trade chatter around him.
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The Arizona Cardinals are moving closer and closer to being sellers at the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10.
In the week after Arizona’s win over Los Angeles, that thinking took somewhat of a backseat given the defensive successes and momentum built up from the victory.
Following Sunday’s 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos, that is no longer the case. Instead of looking for reinforcements for a midseason push, Arizona is trending toward putting out “for sale” signs for teams with much more realistic playoff aspirations.
Taking an L on the chin this week against the Dallas Cowboys could very well open up the floodgates.
As for who could be on their way out of Arizona? Let’s start with the most logical.
Josh Sweat’s days feel numbered with the Cardinals
After being a main topic this offseason as a potential trade piece, Sweat remained in Arizona to start the year. The start of his 2026 campaign was far from stellar, leaving many to wonder if he would even command enough of a return in any perspective deal.
He’s since turned things around and is looking much more like his normal self. After failing to record a sack across the first three weeks, he’s up to three in the last four. Two officially show up on the stat sheet. His two-point strip sack of Matthew Stafford does not, even though it was a key play in Arizona’s win.
Sweat still has a ways to go to make up ground and get back to his career-year form but is showing he still has plenty in the tank for teams looking to beef up their pass-rushing department.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday threw out the Dallas Cowboys as a potential trade partner. NFL insider Jordan Schultz added two more names to the mix in the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.
I can’t see the Cardinals dealing Sweat to an NFC West foe — unless the compensation is above asking price. The other two landing spots, however, make sense.
The Bears can use all the help they can get right now as they try to make up ground on the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, are teetering either way. At 3-4, Dallas sits 1.5 games back from the New York Giants (4-2-1). Monday night’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles could give them the green light to make a deal.
And even if it’s not this week, the Cowboys have an opportunity to get an up-close look at Sweat with the Cardinals heading to Dallas in Week 8 before pulling the trigger.
Given reports of Sweat being unhappy with the firing of former head coach Jonathan Gannon and him wanting a new contract, it’s just hard to see the pass rusher remaining in Arizona beyond the deadline at this rate.
If Arizona can land a high-end Day 2 pick for the pass rusher, that would be considered a win.
Cardinals QBs on the trading block?
Arizona has a clear trade piece in the quarterbacks room in Gardner Minshew II.
The veteran backup continues to ride the bench as Jacoby Brissett’s backup while rookie Carson Beck waits in the wings as an emergency option.
Minshew just feels like the odd man out in Arizona’s signal-calling equation.
Head coach Mike LaFleur said Sunday the plan is to roll with Brissett as the starter for at least another week.
If and when a change finally does happen, leapfrogging Minshew altogether for the rookie feels like the move to make. The Cardinals need all the intel they can get out of Beck before deciding on drafting a first-round quarterback prospect in hopes of finding their next franchise signal caller.
That makes Minshew very much expendable for the right price. After all, he’s a free agent after this year.
Speaking of making a quarterback change, if the Cardinals do so before the deadline, don’t rule out Brissett as a trade candidate, either.
Much like Minshew, Brissett is in a contract year after getting a pay raise this season. The results haven’t lived up to the pay day, though.
Getting him off the books this trade deadline is very much a possibility.
Both quarterbacks likely aren’t going to command much of a return — fifth- or sixth-round picks — but hey, something is better than nothing.
What about Budda Baker?
It would be really weird seeing Baker suit up for a franchise not named the Cardinals.
He’s been a mainstay with the franchise since 2017 and will go down as a Cardinals great when it’s all said and done.
Baker, however, could be an enticing pickup for a team that feels it’s one player away from making a run. The safety has already set a career high in sacks this year and continues to be a punisher within the defense. He also still has a year left on his current deal and isn’t due any guaranteed money in 2027.
Now, at what price would Arizona feel comfortable parting with the eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro? That’s up for debate.
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