It's easy to sell a year-four jump from Lukas Van Ness in the middle of the offseason. When it comes time to step onto the field in September, the Green Bay Packers may be a bit more nervous about the state of their edge defender group.
If they want to get ahead of the issue, there's an obvious trade opportunity waiting for them. According to Arizona Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard, pass-rusher Josh Sweat is "not particularly happy" in his current position.
Each of Sweat's two most productive seasons in the NFL has come under current Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. If the price is right, the Packers shouldn't hesitate to reunite Gannon with his favorite edge rusher.
Packers staring down a Josh Sweat trade opportunity Jonathan Gannon would love
Sweat is reportedly not present at team OTAs. He's not injured, and he has reportedly been unhappy with his current situation since Gannon was fired by Arizona earlier this offseason. While he hasn't been publicly made available for trade, the Cardinals are likely willing to listen to offers.
Even in a disappointing season for the Cardinals in 2025, Sweat put up double-digit sacks. He's one of the most underrated edge defenders in the NFL, and he's always thrived when playing for Gannon.
Of course, the Packers already have a superstar edge rusher in the building in Micah Parsons. Assuming he returns from his injury at a high level, he's impactful enough to carry a decent pass rush on his own. But Green Bay lacks quality behind him, especially after trading Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys. Van Ness has not lived up to expectations so far in his career, and he's set to play a major role in 2026.
The Packers could instantly form one of the best edge-rushing duos in the league by trading for Sweat. The acquisition would make teams pay for trying to double-team Parsons in pass protection. With two Pro-Bowl-caliber edge rushers, Green Bay would have a true strength to lean on.
Due to the Parsons trade, the Packers don't currently have a first-round draft pick in 2027. They do, however, have an extra fourth-round selection from the Dallas Cowboys. Could a package including a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick be enough to get a deal done with the Cardinals? If so, the Packers shouldn't have to think twice about it.
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