Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Tuesday dismissed rumors that his team had discussed a trade for Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat, calling the reports fabricated.
“No one from our organization has had a conversation about Josh Sweat from anyone at Arizona. That’s coming out of thin air, someone is making stuff up, because that never happened,” Gutekunst said.
The comments, reported by Packers beat writer Ryan Wood, arrived one day after Green Bay finalized its 53-man roster and two weeks before the regular-season opener. Speculation linking Sweat to the Packers had circulated since the spring and intensified last week during joint practices in Green Bay.
Sweat, 29, signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract with Arizona in March 2025. He produced a career-high 12 sacks, 17 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles last season, becoming the Cardinals’ most productive pass rusher.
The rumors gained traction because Sweat spent four seasons under Jonathan Gannon, first in Philadelphia and then in Arizona. Gannon was fired after the Cardinals finished 3-14 in 2025 and later joined the Packers as defensive coordinator.
Green Bay’s interest appeared logical on paper. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who recorded 12.5 sacks in 14 games last season, remains on the reserve/physically unable to perform list after tearing his ACL in December. He will miss at least the first four games.
Without Parsons, the Packers enter the season with Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr. and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton as their primary edge rushers. The team recorded 36 sacks as a unit in 2025, a total that dropped after Green Bay traded Rashan Gary to Dallas in the offseason.
Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort has repeatedly said the Cardinals have no interest in trading Sweat. National reporters including Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport delivered similar messages throughout the summer.
Still, the timing of Sweat’s activation from the physically unable to perform list last week, combined with both front offices arriving early for the joint practices, kept the rumor mill active. Some reports suggested compensation talks had shifted from a second-round pick to a player-plus-pick package.
Gutekunst has generally preferred to build through the draft rather than absorb expensive veteran contracts. Sweat is slated to earn $18.1 million in each of the next three seasons. Arizona already paid a $7.22 million option bonus, leaving a 2026 cash obligation of about $10.88 million for an acquiring team.
Packers fans and analysts had viewed Sweat as a potential short-term solution while Parsons rehabbed and a longer-term complement once the All-Pro returned. That scenario now appears closed, at least before the season begins.
The Packers open Sept. 13 at Minnesota. Parsons’ earliest possible return would come in Week 5 against Chicago, though a Week 6 home game against Dallas has been discussed as a more realistic target.
Whether Green Bay revisits the idea closer to the Nov. 10 trade deadline remains unknown. Gutekunst’s language Tuesday left little room for interpretation about the present.
Sweat is expected to start for Arizona when the Cardinals open Sept. 13 at the Los Angeles Chargers. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound rusher has missed only two games over the past five seasons despite ongoing knee maintenance.
For now, the Packers will rely on the young edge group already on the roster. Gutekunst made clear that any suggestion of talks with Arizona was invented.
The denial ends months of on-again, off-again reports that never produced a deal. Green Bay will begin the 2026 season without an additional veteran pass rusher from outside the organization.
