Rumors swirl around Josh Sweat. Discover the three key issues making a Cowboys trade for the pass-rusher improbable.
FRISCO - If you want your kid to grow up to strike it rich in the NFL? Teach Junior how to pass-rush.
Well, better to teach him how to be a team owner. But short of that ...
In today's NFL, pass-rushers are getting paid, second only to QBs. In recent days in free agency, Trey Hendrickson got $112 million over four years to move to the Baltimore Ravens, Odafe Oweh got $100 million to move to the Commanders, Jaelan Phillips was guaranteed $80 million by Carolina ...
You get the idea.
Oh, let's not forget that Dallas traded for Green Bay's Rashan Gary in another notable move as the Cowboys massaged down his deal but are still slated to pay him $32 million over two years.
Next up in the news could be veteran Pro Bowl edge rusher Josh Sweat, who is reportedly requesting a trade from the Arizona Cardinals.
The rumors there are threefold: One, he's got teammates denying the veracity of the rumor. Two, he's supposedly upset because the Cardinals just fired coach Johnathan Gannon - the guy who lured him from the Eagles to Arizona in the first place.
And three, money.
Does Sweat want more of that? That seems unlikely, as he's just one year removed from having signed a a four-year contract worth up to $74.5 million with the Cardinals.
But whatever the issue might be (assuming there is one), there is a money storyline at play here, as the 28-year-old is due a roster bonus of $7.22 million on March 20.
So if the Cardinals want a divorce, they'd prefer to move quickly.
Add it all up - the new team would have to pay that bonus while taking on a big salary and while believing itself in desperate need of such a player and you can see why it's unlikely to happen for Dallas.
Sweat produced a career-high 12 sacks (along with 47 pressures) last season. Through his first eight seasons since being picked by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Sweat has 55 sacks with 11 forced fumbles, and a 2022 interception that he returned for a touchdown. ...
Yes, against the Dallas Cowboys.
At 6-5 and 265, Sweat would be the kind of splash move Cowboys Nation is begging for, the kind of investment that was hoped for when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones promised to "bust the budget.''
But take responsibility for that bonus? And then that salary? While giving up draft capital at a position the Cowboys seem to think they've filled with Gary?
We don't think that's where Dallas' head is right now.
If the Cowboys don't add another veteran edge soon, they will likely feel more pressure to do so in next month’s 2026 NFL Draft, during which they have two first-round picks.
They are likely leaning that way, much to the chagrin, we bet, of Cowboys Nation, which would like Jones to make another NFL edge-rich by putting him in silver and blue.