Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort made it clear Monday that the team has no plans to part ways with edge rusher Josh Sweat, putting an end for now to months of speculation about the veteran’s future with the club.
Sweat has been a focal point of trade rumors throughout the offseason. Much of the talk stemmed from the firing of former head coach Jonathan Gannon, under whom Sweat had played previously in Philadelphia, and questions about whether the pass rusher preferred a different landing spot.
The 29-year-old remains on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury and has yet to practice during training camp. He also sat out mandatory minicamp earlier this summer, which only added fuel to the ongoing chatter.
Ossenfort addressed the situation directly when speaking with reporters.
“Josh is making good progress,” Ossenfort said. “Josh is getting closer every day. I think Josh is going to be out there in due time to get ready for the season opener, and we’re excited to get him out there and get him going. I’d say [trade] discussions that come by that, there’s always a lot of talk that goes around that. We have no interest in trading Josh. We’re excited to have him. Some of those discussions [we’re] going to keep private. But excited to have Josh here; he had a great year last year. Excited for more good things out of him this year.”
Sweat arrived in Arizona ahead of the 2025 season after spending seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles. Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, he recorded 43 sacks during his time in Philadelphia, including an 11-sack campaign in 2022 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
He also contributed significantly to the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in 2024, posting 2.5 sacks in the championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. That performance helped secure him a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Cardinals.
In his first season with Arizona, Sweat delivered a career-best 12 sacks. No other Cardinals defender came close, with veteran Calais Campbell finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks.
Head coach Mike LaFleur has expressed confidence in Sweat’s recovery process.
“He’s putting a lot of work in behind the scenes to make sure when he gets the green light, and everyone feels good,” LaFleur said. “Ultimately [we’re] making sure Josh feels good both mentally and physically to go out there and perform the way [he can] because he takes a lot of pride in what his product looks like. That tape matters a lot to him as I’ve gotten to know him. So he’s earned the right to communicate with us to say, ‘hey, I feel good, I’m ready to go.’”
The Cardinals are not expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2026 as they continue a longer-term rebuild. Still, the organization views Sweat as a key piece of the defensive front and wants him available for the Sept. 13 season opener.
Ossenfort’s comments leave little room for interpretation regarding the team’s immediate intentions. While discussions involving the player have occurred, the general manager stressed the club’s desire to keep those conversations private and focus on having Sweat on the roster.
Sweat’s production last year provided a bright spot for a defense that otherwise struggled. His ability to generate pressure and finish plays remains valuable even as the roster undergoes changes around him.
Team officials continue to monitor his rehabilitation closely. Progress reports indicate he is moving in the right direction, though no firm timeline for his return to full practice has been released beyond expectations that he will be ready for Week 1.
As training camp continues, attention will remain on how the defensive line develops without its top pass rusher on the field for the time being. Ossenfort’s firm stance suggests the Cardinals prefer to wait for Sweat’s recovery rather than explore deals that would send him elsewhere this summer.
Whether that position holds through the regular season and into the November trade deadline remains to be seen, particularly if the team’s record reflects another difficult year.
For now, however, the message from the front office is straightforward: Josh Sweat is staying put, and the organization is looking forward to what he can deliver once healthy.
