The Dallas Cowboys continue to search for answers along the defensive front as the NFL trade deadline nears, and Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat has emerged as one name that fits their profile.
After dealing Micah Parsons prior to the 2025 season, Dallas has struggled to generate consistent pressure, ranking near the bottom of the league in sacks through the early portion of the current campaign.
With the team sitting around .500 and still viewing itself as a contender in a wide-open NFC East, the front office appears open to adding a proven veteran rather than relying solely on internal options such as Rashan Gary and recent additions.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has fueled the speculation by naming Sweat as a player of interest to multiple teams ahead of the deadline, specifically citing the Cowboys as a potential landing spot.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Schefter noted that talk of a potential deal for the veteran has circulated for some time and suggested that further losses by Arizona could make the Cardinals more willing to part with him for the right draft compensation.
He highlighted Sweat’s track record as a big-time pass rusher who recorded 12 sacks in 2025, underscoring why contending clubs would view him as a worthwhile target.
Sweat is currently in the middle of a four-year, $76.4 million contract he signed with Arizona in free agency last year. That deal runs through the 2028 season, meaning any acquiring team would not be adding a pure rental.
For the Cowboys, the multi-year control is appealing given their recent pattern of in-season acquisitions that required subsequent extensions.
Sweat’s prior connection to Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who overlapped with him during their shared time with the Philadelphia Eagles, further strengthens the theoretical fit.
Parker’s scheme is one in which the 29-year-old thrived earlier in his career, including a Pro Bowl season and a Super Bowl LIX appearance in which he recorded 2.5 sacks.
Through six games this season, Sweat has posted two sacks while showing flashes of the disruptive form that defined his best years in Philadelphia and his career-high output in 2025.
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has publicly stated the team has no interest in trading him, yet the club’s 2-4 record and limited playoff outlook leave the door open for discussions as the Nov. 10 deadline approaches.
Dallas already expended draft capital this year to acquire cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and previously added Quinnen Williams, so any pursuit of Sweat would require careful evaluation of remaining assets against the immediate upgrade he could provide opposite the current edge group.
If Arizona ultimately decides to sell, the Cowboys possess both the schematic familiarity and the positional need that make them a logical landing spot for the veteran.
