ESPN’s Graziano expects Cardinals to shop Josh Sweat if losses pile up

The Arizona Cardinals have been widely projected to finish toward the bottom of the NFL standings. If that happens, selling at the trade deadline seems likely.

If they’re in the position to sell, veterans on the team will generate interest on the market, with defensive end Josh Sweat being one of the top names available.

Sweat, 29, had a productive season on an underwhelming Cardinals team. He finished the year with 30 tackles, 12 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Over the offseason, Sweat expressed some displeasure with the team and his contract situation. He didn’t participate in mandatory minicamps, didn’t go to some of the voluntary OTAs and because of that, his name was floated in frequent trade rumors this offseason.

Arizona is going to continue to get calls. Though I believe the team doesn’t want to trade him. I also know these things change, and if Arizona is out of it in late October and/or Sweat indicates he doesn’t want to be there anymore, you’ll hear his name ahead of the deadline.

Sweat is under contract through the 2028 season, but following this year he is able to be released with minimal dead cap if needed, making it an enticing contract situation for potential suitors.

Rental or not, though, there will be no shortage of teams interested in a highly productive DE who will only be owed around $5 million mid-season, and if the Cardinals sell, Sweat will likely be one of the first ones sent elsewhere.

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