As a few blockbuster trades went down in the NFL on Monday, there was a rumor floating around about the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat.
The rumor came from Easton Butler of Packer Report, who said Green Bay was working on a trade for Sweat.
“Hearing the Packers and Cardinals are working on a trade involving Josh Sweat, per source. It is coming down to how much cap the Packers are willing to take, and how high of a pick,” Butler reported.
However, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, who is one of the Packers beat reporters, poured cold water on the idea that Green Bay might acquire Sweat.
“Sorry to rain on the parade, but I’m told (general manager) Brian Gutekunst hasn’t discussed a Josh Sweat trade with anyone. Not a thing at this point,” Schneidman reported.
The buzz surrounding Sweat and the Packers came on the same day the New England Patriots traded for wide receiver A.J. Brown in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams acquired Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Why Packers should trade for Josh Sweat
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The idea that the Green Bay Packers could trade for Josh Sweat definitely makes sense.
After all, the Packers traded Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason and might be without Micah Parsons to start the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.
Green Bay did draft Dani Dennis-Sutton in the fourth round, but he’s unproven.
As far as the rest of the roster is concerned, no other edge rusher outside of Parsons and Gary had more than two sacks last season.
Sweat would be just what the doctor ordered for the Packers.
MORE: Rams’ history of trading first-round picks after Myles Garrett deal
The veteran posted a pair of double-digit sack seasons during his career, and he’s coming off a campaign in which he posted a career-high 12.
With Sweat set to turn 30 next year as the Cardinals are in the midst of a rebuild, there’s a very good chance he won’t be in Arizona’s long-term plans.
Arizona would be wise to sell while Sweat’s stock is at its highest, and getting what would likely be a Day 2 pick for him would aid in the rebuild.
The Packers have all of their Day 2 picks for the next two drafts, so they could meet that projected asking price for Sweat.
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