The Chicago Bears are historically willing to operate in the NFL trade market under general manager Ryan Poles and have been prominent suitors for multiple defensive linemen this offseason, which has led to a revived notion that the team might pursue pass-rusher Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals.
Harrison Graham of “Bears Now” pitched the Sweat idea on Friday, August 21, prefacing the notion with the context of Chicago’s offseason to this point.
“It’s a signal that the Bears are interested in opportunities,” Graham said. “We know they were in on Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason to a certain extent. We now know that they were in on Vita Vea, according to two prominent NFL insiders (Jordan Schultz and Mike Garafolo).”
Josh Sweat Upset With Cardinals for Firing Former Head Coach Jonathan Gannon, Which Led to Trade Request
GettyArizona Cardinals pass-rusher Josh Sweat.
Graham noted that Sweat, a Pro Bowler in 2021 when he was with the Philadelpia Eagles, inked a four-year deal worth $76.4 million total to join the Cardinals ahead of the 2025 campaign. However, he did that because his former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was the head coach in Arizona at the time.
And while Sweat excelled, putting up a career-high 12 sacks, the Cardinals struggled to the tune of a 3-14 campaign. The team fired Gannon, who is now the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, in a decision that apparently didn’t sit well with Sweat.
“He’s still on the Cardinals PUP list with this mysterious knee injury,” Graham said of Sweat. “There were whispers, there were local reports in Arizona that behind the scenes Josh Sweat has requested a trade. He did not participate in OTAs. He did show up to mandatory minicamp but they were like, ‘Yeah, he’s got a minor knee thing going on, so he’s not gonna participate … oh, he’ll be ready for training camp.'”
“We’re three weeks into camp and he’s still on the PUP list with this mysterious knee injury and there’s no real update on his status,” Graham continued.
Cardinals brass said publicly that they want to keep Sweat, but Graham noted that Sweat hasn’t practiced once in an official capacity since new head coach Mike LaFleur and his staff took the reins from Gannon this offseason.
Packers, Other Contenders May Have Interest in Trade for Josh Sweat
GettyPass-rusher Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals.
Graham went on to say he believes that the knee injury is just a smokescreen excuse for Sweat’s absence from training camp and the preseason, which may indicate that the 29-year-old edge-rusher will become available at some point either before Week 1 or leading up to the early-November trade deadline.
“I think there’s a great chance that they’re just gonna activate him on PUP pretty soon, and he’s gonna get traded,” Graham added. “Now whether that’s gonna be to the Chicago Bears, to the Packers — where Jonathan Gannon also is, I think they would be interested — or another contender, I think he ends up getting moved.”
Sweat is likely to command a Day 2 draft pick in return.
Bears Trade Pitch for $76 Million Pro-Bowl Pass-Rusher Revived