The Arizona Cardinals' star pass rusher, Josh Sweat, could be on the move this offseason as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the team has received trade calls for him. Among the interested teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have emerged as potential landing spots for the defensive standout.
Which Teams Are Interested in Josh Sweat?
According to multiple reports, the Arizona Cardinals have fielded inquiries from several teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, and even a potential reunion with the Philadelphia Eagles. USA Today's NFL insider Cory Woodroof predicted that Sweat could be an impactful addition to both the Chiefs and the Bills.
Insider Analysis on Trade Rumors
Cory Woodroof noted, "We imagine the Chiefs would love to add Sweat to its pass-rushing rotation. The perennial title contender could use more juice up front, and Arizona could trade Sweat out of the NFC to an AFC powerhouse." He added, "The Bills always need pass-rushers for their postseason runs, and we imagine the Bills would be thrilled to get a player like Sweat at this point in the offseason. He'd be a slam dunk for Buffalo at this point."
Contract Details and Salary Cap Implications
In 2024, Josh Sweat signed a four-year, $76.4 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Having already received his $18.5 million signing bonus, a team trading for Sweat would inherit a base salary of $9.78 million, plus up to $1.1 million in workout and active roster bonuses, totaling roughly $10.88 million against the salary cap for 2026. For the Kansas City Chiefs, that $9.78 million base salary is relatively affordable for a high-end pass rusher. However, for the Buffalo Bills, adding an immediate $10.88 million cap hit could restrict their remaining regular-season spending flexibility.
How the Trade Could Impact the Teams
In the last season, Josh Sweat recorded an impressive performance, leading the Cardinals with 12 sacks (tied for 8th in the NFL) and 70 total quarterback hurries across 17 games. Trading him would leave a significant hole in Arizona's pass rush, especially after the team managed only three wins last season. For the Chiefs and Bills, Sweat would be a massive upgrade to their pass rush, potentially propelling them toward a Super Bowl run. However, his cost might be a bit too steep for the Bills given their cap constraints.
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