2026 Roster Thread - Semi-Live

[Pokerbrat2000]

One more note here on Sweat - He is due around 18m for each of the next three years...BUT 7m of that and change was already paid this year as a roster bonus. So this year would only be due a little less than 11m.

The remaining two years (36m), as far as I know, have next to nothing in guaranteed money.

Yup.

This is a contract that is totally tolerable and why I would support a trade for Sweat, IF he isn't demanding a new deal and he costs something around 4th round pick, which we are projected to have 3 of due to compensatory picks.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

My biggest question with trading for Sweat, besides whether or not he wants a new deal, who is out on defense if he is on the roster? Oliver, Cox, DDS? That "issue" becomes even more of a squeeze once Parsons is back on the roster.

DDS is a lock to make the team IMO, so it might come down to Oliver or Cox.

 

[milani]

I'm just guessing, but his name is probably circulating amongst many different fan bases as a "perfect fit" for their team. All I have heard is that he is "unhappy" in AZ and didn't show up at OTA's. Is he unhappy because he thinks the Cardinals suck, doesn't like his role, wants more money? If he wants more money, hard pass on him.

If Sweat is just wanting to play for a new team, then he would probably be worth the trade. I have read that it would probably take a 2027 conditional 4th rounder, that would escalate to a 3rd rounder, depending on set performance levels.

The good news for the Packers is their leg up with having Gannon as their DC. As Sweat's former coach at AZ, Gannon is going to know his value to the Packers defense and how he could be used.

I like Sweat coming to the Packers for that conditional 4th rounder, under his current deal with the Cardinals, but a new contract with new guaranteed money, pass.

Well, it is true that if you are a Cardinal you are looking up at 3 of the best teams in the NFL in your own division. It can be discouraging.

 

[Magooch]

Bill Huber was suggesting that the word is Sweat could be had for as low as a 5th

 

[tynimiller]

Bill Huber was suggesting that the word is Sweat could be had for as low as a 5th

I'd go as high as a 3rd if we get him and a 4th or him back. Next year we have a TON of picks just not day 1...if there was ever a year to spin some trades it is now.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Bill Huber was suggesting that the word is Sweat could be had for as low as a 5th

I heard that as well and I guess the longer he holds out, the less that they might get. The "problem" for the Packers, their 5th is worth less than say a Raiders 5th.

I still would be just fine, if they got him and his current contract for a 4th rounder. Especially given how many draft picks we are estimated to have in 2027 (11).

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

For those that wonder why receivers are running the wrong routes, why blocks are being missed, players don't make a roster, etc., you try digesting a playbook made up of this stuff!

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[Pokerbrat2000]

Easton Butler - "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."

 

[tynimiller]

Easton Butler - "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."

I ain't picking up a dime. Keep his actual hit to us at that $17-$19M range it will be and we ARE GOLD. I'd toss in an extra pick say a 4th and a 6th for Sweat and a 7th in return but we ain't picking up a dime.

NOW.....I would hear them out on maybe picking up like $5M or more of it this season only in return they take a later pick....maybe a 5th and a 7th package straight for him and a 7th in 2028....or something like that.

I ain't adding to our hits next year at all....we will have LVN higher in 2027, Parsons grows and a lot elsewhere changes. BUT Sweat at or near $20M is a steal to pair with Parsons and you get that bonus 5th year in LVN next year too....worry about 2028 till then and you likely can walk clean from one or even two of them depending how much else shakes out.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I ain't picking up a dime. Keep his actual hit to us at that $17-$19M range it will be and we ARE GOLD. I'd toss in an extra pick say a 4th and a 6th for Sweat and a 7th in return but we ain't picking up a dime.

NOW.....I would hear them out on maybe picking up like $5M or more of it this season only in return they take a later pick....maybe a 5th and a 7th package straight for him and a 7th in 2028....or something like that.

I ain't adding to our hits next year at all....we will have LVN higher in 2027, Parsons grows and a lot elsewhere changes. BUT Sweat at or near $20M is a steal to pair with Parsons and you get that bonus 5th year in LVN next year too....worry about 2028 till then and you likely can walk clean from one or even two of them depending how much else shakes out.

My guess is that the Cardinals are trying to get back as much as they can of the guaranteed $7.22M 2026 amount paid to him in March. While I am with you on limiting it to as much as you can, it can be a sliding amount, depending on what draft pick the Packers are being asked to give up for Sweat.

I am just hoping that Sweat doesn't want a new deal, with more guaranteed money. That would be a deal breaker for me. His current deal, for 3 more years is out of guarantees, my kind of contract.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Maybe one of the biggest dilemmas if the Packers trade for Sweat is "What jersey number will he wear?"

#17, #69, #86 and #96 are open? Otherwise, I just don't see a lot of options. #12 isn't officially retired just yet.

I suppose, #8 could be available in the near future?

 

[milani]

Maybe one of the biggest dilemmas if the Packers trade for Sweat is "What jersey number will he wear?"

#17, #69, #86 and #96 are open? Otherwise, I just don't see a lot of options. #12 isn't officially retired just yet.

I suppose, #8 could be available in the near future?

#00.

 

[Magooch]

Maybe we tell them we’ll take on some of his cap hit if they send a running back our way too lol

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

#00.

The NFL doesn't allow 00 or any number starting with 0...I was thinking 01 would be fun to pair with Micah....but no can do.

 

[OldSchool101]

Watson, Kraft, Wyatt, LVN, are the most prominent Free Agents.
Keisean Nixon, Karl Brooks, McDuffie
and Valentine are in contracts years also.
Imo we’ve got room to resign Kraft and a 5th year contract on 1 of either Wyatt or LVN (depending on how they look this year) Possibly extend Watson? that’s a coin flip. Having 11 draft picks will help to find a vertical threat. Might be an avenue to just spend a Day 2 draft selection in 2027 on a prospect who profiles similar to Watson. Then possibly pick 1 of Nixon or McDuff, but an iLB would be easier to replace in Day 3.

Josh Sweat could be a 2-year fix through 2027. If we push $5 mil into void years he’s basically $12Mil cap per season through 2027, so not cost prohibitive. I think his cheaper $ will cost a team a 3rd to 4th Rounder areas. As far as impact he’s averaging around Rashan Gary numbers
9.5 Sacks,
18 QB hits
11 TFL
Per year for the last 4 consecutive seasons, which is slightly ahead of Rashan Gary (2200 Snaps) Josh Sweats (2600 snaps) are comparable output. Yet here you’d cash in our RD4 Gary pick and keep Josh for 2 seasons with an average Cap hit of $14..5Mil area or $12mil per with a void year.

Again the Ties to the Eagles and Cardinals and Gannon are obvious. I suppose Gannon would already know Sweat’s history better than he would have in studying Rashan.

 

[OldSchool101]

In any case IF GB lands Sweat? That would be huge because we’d have a pair of legit Pass Rushers with LVN and good depth with Cox Jr, Oliver and DDS and Sorrell, even without Micah. Once Micah comes back we could slide LVN inside some and we’d have a really good contingency if an Edge goes down.

Great thing about several of these guys is if you can line up Wyatt, LVN, Sweat and Parsons simultaneously? That’s a load! Yet we’d have strong rotation to keep guys fresh as Hargrave, Cox Jr, McClellan, DDS etc. being packaged into that mix.

Sweat is absolutely affordable for at least 2 seasons. Plus GB has the draft capital if they want more than a 4th. We could do a 4th/5th for Sweat/6th

*I really liked how Sorrell looked against Chicago last Playoffs. Him and LVN really stood out against Caleb. Really had it not been for a pair of near back to back Jordan Love intentional grounding flags and a pair of Chicago nice Punt Returns? we likely win that game.

 

[tynimiller]

My guess is that the Cardinals are trying to get back as much as they can of the guaranteed $7.22M 2026 amount paid to him in March. While I am with you on limiting it to as much as you can, it can be a sliding amount, depending on what draft pick the Packers are being asked to give up for Sweat.

I am just hoping that Sweat doesn't want a new deal, with more guaranteed money. That would be a deal breaker for me. His current deal, for 3 more years is out of guarantees, my kind of contract.

The new deal thing is likely what crushes this if so...because he's already 29....technically the contract has his control for three years (including this year) and after that he'll be 32. Not too old to get another solid (not amazing) deal but solid...but iron is hot right now if you're his agent and him for sure. Now I wonder if GB would do something like a one year extension type deal, putting a touch of cash in his pock now, ballooning that fourth year to keep the first two years down substantially, third year not crazy if he playing at high level and the fourth year is a known NEVER happening year. Something like that with maybe one year of void could easily put $15-$25M in his pocket now and lower his cap hit to us post-trade.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I haven't read anything about Sweat wanting a new contract, but if he does, see ya! I draw the line in the sand on trading for Sweat if he wants more guaranteed money and a new deal. He already received $38M in guarantees from the Cardinals, on a deal he signed last year. If the Packers spend a draft pick on getting him, he is all but guaranteed an additional $9.78M (his 2026 salary), as well as per game roster bonuses for as much as an additional $1M.

I've never liked just tearing up contracts, especially when they are anchored by upfront guarantees. Giving Sweat a new deal, is sending a message to the rest of the Packer rosters "Want more money? Sit out and demand a trade."

My guess of the situation, if Sweat isn't demanding anything but a new team, the Cardinals have enough suitors for him, that they are simply waiting on the highest bidder.

 

[mradtke66]

I draw the line in the sand on trading for Sweat if he wants more guaranteed money and a new deal.

Players want guaranteed money to protect their future, it's that simple. Once we trade for him, he has 0 remaining, which is fine, but that also means we could cut him at any time.

It would be painless to guarantee him this year's salary ($9,780,000). He's a vested veteran. If he's on the roster week 1, his salary is guaranteed anyway. If you're willing to trade for him, I'd think a 18m or so signing bonus and 3 years is probably fair? Unsure if he'd take that.

The Cards are going to want a higher pick because of the dead-cap implications (31m) and the Packers will want to offer a lower one because he wants security.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Players want guaranteed money to protect their future, it's that simple. Once we trade for him, he has 0 remaining, which is fine, but that also means we could cut him at any time.

It would be painless to guarantee him this year's salary ($9,780,000). He's a vested veteran. If he's on the roster week 1, his salary is guaranteed anyway. If you're willing to trade for him, I'd think a 18m or so signing bonus and 3 years is probably fair? Unsure if he'd take that.

The Cards are going to want a higher pick because of the dead-cap implications (31m) and the Packers will want to offer a lower one because he wants security.

Guessing you just skimmed my post. Sweat was already given guaranteed money ($38M) in 2025, with $7.22M of that being given to him in March of this year. I also said, if the Packers trade for him, by investing a 2027 draft pick, he is all but guaranteed the rest of his 2026 salary of $9.78M + up to $1M of in game bonuses. I mean what more does a player want? To be guaranteed each year an amount equal to 2 times his current yearly salary? In Sweats case, an amount he already received from the Cardinals and now fans would be ok with the Packers doubling up on that guaranteed money?

If he wants more money to "protect his future", then he should take out an insurance policy against injuries. I doubt there is an insurance company that would give him insurance to cover being cut due to a decrease in his production/value to a team, nor should any team give him that same insurance, in this case, 2 teams, doubling up on said insurance.

Teams may be blind to this garbage, but as a fan, I think enough is enough.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Josh Sweat prefers to go to the Packers, but conversations between Packers and Arizona have led nowhere so far. His #2 priority is Philly. Eagles tried to make a move for Garrett. We'll see if Howie and the Cardinals can figure something out.#Eagles per
@Easton__Butler

 

[tynimiller]

Guessing you just skimmed my post. Sweat was already given guaranteed money ($38M) in 2025, with $7.22M of that being given to him in March of this year. I also said, if the Packers trade for him, by investing a 2027 draft pick, he is all but guaranteed the rest of his 2026 salary of $9.78M + up to $1M of in game bonuses. I mean what more does a player want? To be guaranteed each year an amount equal to 2 times his current yearly salary? In Sweats case, an amount he already received from the Cardinals.

If he wants more money to "protect his future", then he should take out an insurance policy against injuries. I doubt there is an insurance company that would give him insurance to cover being cut due to a decrease in his production/value to a team, nor should any team give him that same insurance, in this case, 2 teams, doubling up on said insurance.

Teams may be blind to this garbage, but as a fan, I think enough is enough.

One issue is if you're the player and you are traded....all that guarantee is gone...say he gets injured and cannot play....gonezo. One of the reasons why I think a small bone throw could be done through one year extension and prorated across the four years, lowering his cap hit even sweeter than it already is in 2026 and 2027 which would be a killer thing for us.

You're not wrong though, if Sweat continues to be the player he is paying him say $25M in a year is a no brainer and likely makes us able to walk from LVN easily when he is gone...or in truth say Sweat and LVN both are here and both ball out....the Packers could likely keep Sweat and trade LVN with one year left to a team in need of an edge before the 2027 season.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

One issue is if you're the player and you are traded....all that guarantee is gone...say he gets injured and cannot play....gonezo. One of the reasons why I think a small bone throw could be done through one year extension and prorated across the four years, lowering his cap hit even sweeter than it already is in 2026 and 2027 which would be a killer thing for us.

You're not wrong though, if Sweat continues to be the player he is paying him say $25M in a year is a no brainer and likely makes us able to walk from LVN easily when he is gone...or in truth say Sweat and LVN both are here and both ball out....the Packers could likely keep Sweat and trade LVN with one year left to a team in need of an edge before the 2027 season.

Let me ask you this. If Sweat isn't traded and continues to play for the Cardinals, aren't his guarantees gone?

Also, if he is worried about injuries, as you pointed out, all he has to do is buy insurance to cover that (as I pointed out). The Cardinals already gave him plenty of money to pay the premium for such insurance.

My point is this. It really doesn't matter who is holding his contract. He signed a 4 year deal in 2025. He has already received all of the guarantees on THAT deal, they are in his pocket so to speak. Sitting out OTA's and saying "Trade me, I want a new deal or I won't play", should not get NFL teams saying "OMG......lets pay this man some more guaranteed money!"

Again, none of us know, at least I haven't seen anything, that Sweat is asking for a new deal. All I said, is I would be against any new deal that includes new guarantees.

 

[mradtke66]

Guessing you just skimmed my post. Sweat was already given guaranteed money ($38M) in 2025, with $7.22M of that being given to him in March of this year.

If he wants more money to "protect his future", then he should take out an insurance policy against injuries.

Wrong kind of protection.

He is (presumably, anyway) complete financially secure, though I'm sure that is playing into things at least a little. Players want more guaranteed money to increase their stickiness. If a player has not guaranteed money remaining, teams can just cut them at will. If there is guaranteed money, teams are more likely to keep the player. Partially they want to extract all the value they can from money already paid, partially they want to avoid accelerated dead cap.

 

[mradtke66]

Let me ask you this. If Sweat isn't traded and continues to play for the Cardinals, aren't his guarantees gone?

Not really. If you look at any players contract, using Josh as our example, https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/25231/josh-sweat he has dead cap if you cut him (or trade him.)

Also, if he is worried about injuries, as you pointed out, all he has to do is buy insurance to cover that (as I pointed out). The Cardinals already gave him plenty of money to pay the premium for such insurance.

Again, players looking for a deal post-trade aren't necessarily looking for money cash, but assurances that the deal will actually play out. The money is certainly a big driver though.

Sitting out OTA's and saying "Trade me, I want a new deal or I won't play", should not get NFL teams saying "OMG......lets pay this man some more guaranteed money!"

Again, none of us know, at least I haven't seen anything, that Sweat is asking for a new deal. All I said, is I would be against any new deal that includes new guarantees.

We are of course speculating. It could be something as simple as he wanted to play for Gannon, Gannon got fired, he wants to be traded to play for him.

His current contract would cost the cap (roughly) 12M in 2026 and under 20M for 27 and 28. Any team trading for him would be responsible for base salary, option bonuses, and game-day active bonuses, the Cardinals have to eat any unrealized/prorated signing bonus money.

It's also possible that the Cards are on the hook for the option bonus too, which would lower Sweat's cap number further. This is pushing the limits of my understanding of contracts, but since he got 7.2M in cash as an option bonus and it is prorated, maybe the Cards ARE on the hook for it? If true, then his cap drops even lower to 10.7m for 2026, 18M for 27 and 28. Converting some of that salary to bonus would be an easy way to get good will with the player and let the team shuffle around when and how the hits are accounted.