12 Sacks Last Season, But The Cardinals Are Making A Truly Foolish Move Right Now

Alright, Emerald City, we're staring down the barrel of NFL training camps kicking off next month, which means teams across the league are making those last-gasp moves before the real grind starts. You'd think everyone's trying to sharpen their edges, right? Well, not everyone. Down in Arizona, ESPN's Aaron Schatz just threw down a take that has everyone scratching their heads: the Cardinals should trade their star pass rusher, Josh Sweat. And guess what? They’re refusing to do it, even though it feels like a total no-brainer.

Why The Cards Are Stuck In The Mud

Seriously, what are they thinking? Schatz pointed out that the Cardinals have basically no shot at contending this season. We're talking three ridiculously good division rivals and a whole mess of questions at quarterback. It's not looking good, folks. Sweat, on the other hand, is a legit beast. The dude racked up 12 sacks last season! That's massive production, and you'd think a team going nowhere could flip a player like that for a significant 2027 draft pick. Imagine what a pick like that could do for a rebuild, for a team that desperately needs one.

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Sweat has history with former coach Jonathan Gannon from their Philly days, but Gannon got fired way back in January, so that connection is gone. This is purely about what's best for the team going forward, and right now, it looks like they're blind to it.

Clinging To What They Shouldn't

But here's where it gets wild: the Cardinals have zero intentions of trading him. Zero! And get this, apparently, there's even a "level of unhappiness" from Sweat himself. You've got your best defensive player, who's got three years left on his deal, putting up big numbers, and he's not thrilled. Meanwhile, outside of Sweat, their entire outside linebacker group combined for a measly 5.5 sacks in 2025. You tell me: if he walks, who's getting to the quarterback? This team desperately needs pass rush, and they're holding onto a guy who clearly could bring them serious future assets.

Now, I get it, the source says a trade right now might not be the smartest move because they'd probably get more for him at the trade deadline. So doing it before the season, yeah, that’s a "foolish decision." But even if the return isn't peak value right now, you have a player who is unhappy on a team that isn't contending, and you're refusing to explore options. It feels like they are clinging to a player when the smart move is to maximize his value for a future that desperately needs talent.

So, as we gear up for NFL camps to start firing up, every team is trying to position themselves. But down in Arizona, it feels like they’re playing a different game entirely. Will they stick to their guns, or will the mounting pressure and that "level of unhappiness" finally push them to make a move? You gotta wonder what the heck they’re really thinking, because holding onto Sweat now, when they could get something for their future, just feels like a lost opportunity for a franchise that desperately needs a win, even off the field. This is one situation we'll definitely be keeping an eye on as the preseason approaches.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.