News Article
Published
Oct 14, 2026 at 10:43 PM EDT
updated
Oct 14, 2026 at 10:51 PM EDT
It’s no secret the Green Bay Packers defense is not nearly as good without Micah Parsons as it is with him.
As Parsons, a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection, is recovering from an ACL injury, Green Bay’s defense has lacked the same punch it did when he was on the field last season.
Yes, losing defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to the Miami Dolphins played a big role in that, but the Packers are 3-6 including the playoffs in games Parsons has missed (they’re 3-2 this season).
There’s still no definitive timeline on when Parsons is expected to return to the field, which is why Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes they should consider trading for an impact pass-rusher — namely Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals.
“During the offseason, there was some trade chatter surrounding Cardinals pass-rusher Josh Sweat,” Knox wrote. “[General manager Monti Ossenfort has said he doesn’t want to trade Sweat but he] made that statement long before the Cardinals opened the season 1-4 and he decided to trade Harrison. Arizona's willingness to trade Harrison makes it reasonable to question whether its stance on Sweat could also change.
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“The 29-year-old is signed through 2028 but looms as a potential 2027 cap casualty. The Cardinals could release him with a post-June 1 designation in the spring and save $18.1 million in cap space. It could make more sense to trade Sweat, who had 12 sacks last season, well ahead of 2027.”
Green Bay’s defense is reeling after losing both budding star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to season-ending injuries.
The 29-year-old Sweat, a former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, has been one of the more consistent pass-rushers in the NFL over the last six seasons. He’s recorded six or more sacks every year since 2020, and he’s totaled 297 pressures, 185 hurries, 51 QB hits, 51 sacks, and eight forced fumbles during that time.
Arizona is clearly not a playoff contender and likely won’t be for a while, and it would make sense for the team to get back some solid draft capital for Sweat while his value is still high.
Conversely, Green Bay could use another pass-rusher to rotate in with Lukas Van Ness (16 pressures, eight hurries, five QB hits, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks) and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton (nine pressures, five hurries, two QB hits, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks).