Amid dissatisfaction in Arizona, Josh Sweat is a clear trade candidate ahead of the deadline. But a team eyeing the Cardinals edge rusher in trades may need to adjust his contract soon after completing the swap. Sweat has expressed unhappiness about his four-year, $76MM contract — one agreed to just last year — and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes an extension or a raise may need to be part of this trade.
Sweat, of course, does not have a no-trade clause. But a team trading for the veteran EDGE would seemingly want the player to be eager to suit up. Two more years remain on the 29-year-old’s deal, complicating matters regarding an extension. The Eagles, though, extended Jonathan Greenard with two years left on his Vikings-designed pact following a trade this offseason. But the financial component, even if no guarantees are left after 2026, figures to affect Sweat’s trade market.
Here is the latest ahead of the 3pm CT Tuesday deadline:
Jeffery Simmons and DeForest Buckner have changed teams, and clubs have contacted the Eagles onMoro Ojomo (the Eagles and Dolphins have respectively rebuffed Ojomo and Zach Sieler interest). Daron Payne lost his trade appeal after suffering a Jones fracture last week, but other DTs look to be available. The Panthers’ Bobby Brown and Saints’ Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd join the Patriots’ Christian Barmoreas D-linemen to surface in trade conversations, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Brown is on a $5.5MM base salary — on a deal with no 2027 guarantees — while Godchaux and Shepherd are tied to vet-minimum (as this is the restructure-happy Saints) expiring contracts. New Orleans would take on nearly $10MM in dead money by moving Shepherd and nearly $7MM by trading Godchaux.
The Saints also may be dangling linebacker Pete Werner as a trade chip. Werner has been mentioned in trade rumors, Breer adds. The ILB’s three-year, $22.5MM deal runs through 2027; like Godchaux and Shepherd (and many other Saints), a restructure dropped Werner’s 2026 base salary to the vet minimum. It would cost New Orleans nearly $12MM to move on now. Drafted to play in Dennis Allen’s system, Werner signed his extension under Allen as well. Just 27, the 69-game starter — whose snap rate is up to 78% (from 62% last season) — would be an intriguing option at a position where we have not heard much trade chatter.
In addition to a spree of wide receiver rumors involving the Steelers, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes the team is interested in a cornerback. I discussed possible options for Pittsburgh in the most recent Trade Rumors Front Office chat, and the Cardinals’ Garrett Williams looks to be another. The fourth-year slot CB “could be had,” Breer adds. A former third-round pick, Williams returned from an Achilles tear early this season.
While the Steelers are in buyer mode, Breer indicates linebacker Cole Holcomb is a player the team looks to be willing to deal. Holcomb, 30, is on a two-year, $5MM contract. Pittsburgh re-signed Holcomb, who had returned from an injury that cost him the entire 2024 season, in March. But the team’s new staff has used him strictly as a backup.
Mentioned as partaking in a big-game hunt at defensive tackle, the Jaguars lost both DaVon Hamilton and Eric Murrayto season-ending injuries. The AFC South leaders are also interested in safety help post-Murray, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes. Murray has started 17 games during his two-season Jacksonville tenure. Kaevon Merriweather started in place of Murray on Thursday. The team also has 2025 sixth-round pick Rayuan Lane (two 2026 starts) and rookie third-rounder Jalen Huskey rostered.
The Texans are not in sell mode, despite sitting 2-5. A team that carried Super Bowl hopes into the season is still looking around, with Breer adding running back and safety are on the team’s radar. Houston remains without David Montgomery, while free agency addition Reed Blankenship has not justified his $8MM-per-year contract this season.