The Jacksonville Jaguars are taking a deliberate approach to free agency, choosing to steer clear of big signings. By limiting the number of external players they've signed, they've amassed compensatory draft picks for 2027.
See, teams get compensatory picks when their departure in free agency exceed their signings. Among other things, the formula also takes the money in the contracts they get into account. So far, the Jags have been awarded three selections for 2027 after losing running back Travis Etienne, linebacker Devin Lloyd, and cornerback Greg Newsome.
Those picks will help the team's brass make trades down the road. That said, general manager James Gladstone should also consider using some of the picks Jacksonville has to bolster the pass rush. They do precisely that in this proposal.
Why should the Jaguars trade for Josh Sweat?
Johnny Venerable of PHNX reported that Josh Sweat requested a trade from the Arizona Cardinals, noting that he was displeased that they ousted head coach Jonathan Gannon earlier this year.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers are among Sweat's potential suitors because they have ties to him. He spent seven seasons in Philly after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, while the Packers hired Gannon as their head coach. Also, both clubs need pass-rush help.
The Jaguars, for their part, don't appear to have any ties to Sweat, but that shouldn't deter them from giving the Cardinals a call. After all, they have a pair of fearsome pass rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen but need a No. 3 behind them to round out their rotation.
Sweat has been a highly productive player throughout his career, registering 55 sacks in 121 games with 81 starts. Last year, he signed a $76.4 million deal with the Cards and logged a career-best 12.5 sacks. Jacksonville could use that kind of production.
While the Jags did a good job of stuffing the run, they had trouble getting after the quarterback. Although they racked up pressures at a high rate, their 32 sacks were the sixth lowest in the league. Some of that stemmed from their inability to bring the heat inside, but they could also use a boost on the edge.
Trade pitch: The Jaguars get Josh Sweat from the Cardinals in return for draft picks
Josh Sweat probably wouldn't command the kind of trade compensation the Las Vegas Raiders would ask for Maxx Crosby. Moreover, the Jaguars could absorb his salary of $18.1 million for 2026 if they reworked a few deals. On the other hand, the Cardinals won't just give him away.
The Jags could offer their second-round pick, but it would make more sense to put together a package: A 2026 third-round pick, a 2026 fifth-round pick, and a 2026 seventh-round pick. Newly hired head coach Mike LaFleur will want to bring in players who fit his vision, and those three picks would allow him to get it done.
The Dallas Cowboys just acquired Rashan Gary in return for a fourth-round pick, so the trade package for Sweat appears to be more than fair.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars would address one of their biggest needs and give defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile a playmaker to assemble an elite unit.
Grade: A-