See that image above? If we were being honest with ourselves, that's identical to the reaction Green Bay Packers fans would have if this new rumor came to fruition.
Among many of the moves made this offseason around the league, the Packers' rival just made another one of their own. A brand-new Chicago Bears beat reporter was introduced over at FOX 32 this past week in Devan Kaney.
And, in what were some of the first few minutes of airtime she received, Kaney was speaking of her previous experience with the Philadelphia Eagles. During this segment, FOX highlighted a photo of her and former Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat, to which she had this to say:
"This is a picture of me and potential, future Chicago Bear Josh Sweat ... Actually I didn't intentionally give them that photo..."
Wait, what now?
Did she just say "future Chicago Bear Josh Sweat?"
A Bears-Josh Sweat trade would be a total gut punch to Packers fans
It wasn't too long ago that Sweat found his name in trade rumors. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Cardinals were receiving trade calls on Sweat just a few weeks ago.
It only seemed logical for the Packers to jump into the mix. As an NFC contender and playoff team, the Packers were just one season removed from making a monumental trade to acquire Micah Parsons.
With Parsons coming back from a torn ACL, why not up the ante a little further by going and getting a guy who has a connection to defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon?
Sweat is coming off a career-high 12.0 sacks last year under Gannon as his head coach in Arizona. Previously, he had enjoyed success in Philadelphia when Gannon was his coordinator there as well.
In total, Sweat has amassed 55.0 total sacks throughout his eight-year career, but the production didn't start to come until a couple of years in, when he started to break out a bit in Philly.
Now, fast forward to the present, and from the sound of it, he might be headed to Chicago?
What?
This beat reporter made it sound very much like a deal could be in the works to bring Sweat to the Bears. After Packers fans had long thought it made sense for Green Bay to go get him, this would come as quite the turn of events.
It'd be a definite gut punch.
The 29-year-old pass rusher has to know he's going nowhere in Arizona and, before he turns 30 years old and starts to trend the other direction, a change of scenery does seem like a logical move. The only answer is when he will get out of Arizona at this point.
Last offseason, Sweat signed a four-year deal worth over $76 million that landed him with the Cardinals. He cashed in, for sure. But now? The Cardinals are stuck in the same place. They're not going to compete until long after Sweat's prime.
In his defense, either Chicago or Green Bay makes a lot of sense. It wouldn't be surprising to see him wind up getting traded ahead of a 2027 draft class coming out that has plenty of folks salivating, already. If Arizona can get even more capital before 2027, they'll likely do it, even if it means trading Sweat.
No matter what they're saying right now, Sweat has to be available. I won't believe otherwise. Arizona just needs the right type of return to make it happen.
Is there a line? Of course there is. Hopefully, for the Packers' sake, the Bears end up going way over the line to land him. Green Bay can't be hasty, but they'd sure enjoy watching Ryan Poles give up ample draft capital in a deal he really shouldn't be all-in on.
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