The Arizona Cardinals joined the 2025 NFL offseason madness by signing Super Bowl 59 hero Josh Sweat. The Cardinals landed the former Philadelphia Eagles star defensive lineman on a deal worth just over $76 million.
Arizona Cardinals Add Josh Sweat on 4-Year Deal
Sweat spent his first seven seasons with the Eagles after being selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He made the Pro Bowl in 2021 after recording 7.5 sacks, a career-high 45 tackles, and 13 quarterback hits. He signed a three-year, $40 million extension with Philadelphia heading into the 2021 season and renegotiated that deal in 2024 to lower his cap hit.
His best season came in 2022 when he totaled 11 sacks, 48 tackles, and 23 QB hits, all career highs. His 2024 season was quieter, finishing with 8 sacks and 41 tackles, but he was still ranked as the No. 1 available free agent, according to PFSN.
How you evaluate Sweat’s 2024 season depends on the source. Some databases credit him with just 16 pressures, while others list him with more than 50. Even using the higher number, a 14.1% pressure rate would rank outside the top 60 at his position.
However, Sweat made the most of his pressures, resulting in eight sacks. Among free-agent pass rushers, that was the second-highest total, behind only Dante Fowler Jr. The lack of elite pass-rushers in this year’s free-agent class boosted Sweat’s value.
Another factor in his favor was an impressive 16.8% tackle rate, making him one of the most well-rounded pass-rushers available. While he isn’t on the level of T.J. Watt or Micah Parsons, Sweat is a strong addition for any team looking to upgrade its defense.
Sweat saved his best performance for the biggest stage, recording six tackles and 2.5 sacks in the Eagles’ Super Bowl 59 victory. PFSN had projected him to land a deal worth around $15 million per year, but he far exceeded that expectation.
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the deal, “Josh Sweat and the Cardinals reached agreement on a 4-year deal worth $76.4 million, including $41 million guaranteed. Deal negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus.” At $19.1 million per year, Sweat becomes the 12th-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL.
Sweat immediately becomes Arizona’s top pass rusher, joining a unit that totaled just 41 sacks last season. Zaven Collins led the team with five sacks, but Sweat adds a much-needed presence to a defense that finished No. 27 in PFSN’s Defense+ metric.