As the 2026 NFL offseason winds down, the Green Bay Packers face an unsettling reality on the defensive side of the ball. What was supposed to be a cornerstone move has instead become a significant long-term question mark.

Last year, Green Bay pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys to acquire star edge rusher Micah Parsons. The move was heralded as franchise-altering. However, Parsons suffered a season-ending ACL injury in November, casting a shadow over the team’s pass rush plans for the upcoming season.

While Parsons is expected to make a full recovery, his return may not come until several weeks into the 2026 regular season. Even then, there are legitimate questions about how effective he can be less than a year removed from such a major injury. This uncertainty has kept the Packers linked to Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat as a potential trade target.

A Surprisingly Affordable — Yet Risky — Option

According to Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber, acquiring Sweat may not require the heavy draft capital some expected. One high-ranking executive told Packers On SI that a fifth-round pick might be enough to get a deal done, largely because Sweat is 29 years old and carries a substantial contract.

Sweat is owed $38 million in guaranteed money over the next three seasons. For the Cardinals, moving him would mean absorbing significant dead cap charges. From Green Bay’s perspective, however, the cap hit would be a manageable $10.88 million in 2026 — essentially a one-year rental price — though it jumps to $18.1 million in both 2027 and 2028.

Much of Sweat’s signing bonus obligation would reportedly remain with Arizona, making the financial structure potentially workable for the Packers if they view him as a short-term solution.

The Medical Red Flags That Concern NFL Executives

Despite Sweat’s on-field production, there are notable long-term concerns. An executive described him as being “on his last leg.” When the Cardinals signed him in 2025, coaches were reportedly told they would have to carefully “manage” his knee.

Those concerns trace back to a devastating high school injury in 2014. Sweat suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL so severe that doctors initially feared nerve and artery damage. He was told there was a strong possibility he would never play football again — and even discussed the grim prospect of amputation. Remarkably, Sweat not only recovered but went on to have a productive college career at Florida State and an eight-year NFL career.

His durability has been impressive since his rookie season. He has missed just two games over the past five seasons and has averaged 16 games per year. Still, the combination of his age, contract, and history of significant knee trauma makes him a high-risk addition in the eyes of many evaluators.

Sweat’s Edge Over Green Bay’s Young Pass Rushers

The Packers’ current group of edge defenders — Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, and Arron Mosby — have combined for just 15.5 career sacks. That lack of proven production makes Sweat’s experience and track record (including multiple seasons with double-digit sacks) appealing, despite the medical questions.

His prior connection to Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who served as head coach in Arizona, could also help facilitate a smoother transition if a deal materializes.

Will Green Bay Roll the Dice?

The Packers are now navigating a nightmare scenario they likely never envisioned when they traded for Parsons. With their star edge rusher’s timeline uncertain and their young depth unproven, adding a veteran like Sweat — even one with a checkered medical past — could provide immediate relief to the pass rush.

Whether Green Bay is willing to invest even a modest draft pick in a 29-year-old “broken” star with a brutal medical history will say a lot about how aggressively they intend to compete in 2026. A fifth-rounder might be cheap on paper, but the real cost could come in performance risk and future cap flexibility.

For now, Josh Sweat remains one of the more intriguing — and complicated — names on the Packers’ radar.