Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars used a pair of draft picks on defensive ends Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee, the pass rush remains a question mark. Sure, Josh Hines-Allen is one of the top pass rushers in the league, and Travon Walker is nearly back to 100 percent. That said, the Jags are missing a true No. 3 to round out their rotation. Fortunately for them, an intriguing option remains available.
Josh Sweat has been at the center of trade rumors, with several teams reaching out to the Arizona Cardinals to inquire about his availability. And just recently, a report suggested that the Green Bay Packers were zeroing in on him. However, it seems like it was nothing but noise.
The Packers aren't trading for Josh Sweat
Early on June 1, Easton Butler of Packer Report posted on Twitter that the Packers were working on a deal to acquire Josh Sweat. However, Matt Schneidmann of The Athletic has since shot down the rumors, noting that "it's not a thing at this point."
The wording of the post is noteworthy, though. When Schneidmann says, "not at this moment," it doesn't rule out the possibility in the future. Having said that, Green Bay's decision not to pursue the veteran pass rusher opens the door for Jacksonville to make a run for him.
Sweat would be a hot commodity among teams in need of pass-rush help because he just logged 12 sacks in 2025. The prior two years, he had a combined 14.5.
Why the Jaguars need to strongly consider trading for Josh Sweat
Aside from Wesley Williams and Zach Durfee, the Jaguars have sophomores Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II in the mix. Both of them made the 53-man roster as undrafted rookies in 2025 and flashed potential as the season progressed. Jacksonville expects them to make a leap in Year 2, but they still have a long way to go.
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated reported that Josh Hines-Allen didn't attend Day 1 of Organized Team Activities, and his absence was felt, as nobody was able to stand out in his absence. While there's still plenty of time for the Jags' young group of pass rushers to step up, it's definitely a reason for concern.
It's possible that the organization first wants to see what the youngsters can do, but it wouldn't hurt to bring in a veteran pass rusher. That's where Josh Sweat would come in. Acquiring him could take a fourth-round pick that becomes a conditional third based on performance. Coupled with the fact that he's set to have manageable cap hits of $10.8 million and $18.1 million in 2026 and 2027, respectively, it most certainly makes sense for the Jaguars to explore a trade.
It's worth noting that Cameron Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney are also available, and the Jags wouldn't have to part ways with any draft picks or any kind of compensation to sign either one. Moreover, both of them are coming off productive seasons. On the other hand, Josh Sweat is younger and may still have a few productive seasons left in him, whereas Jordan and Clowney are on the older side.
The bottom line is that the Packers' reluctance to trade for Josh Sweat should incentivize the Jaguars to get on the phone with Arizona and get a deal done.
Add us as a preferred source on Google