There has been a lot of debate in recent months about whether the Patriots need to sign or pull off a big trade for a veteran pass rusher to boost what is widely considered the weakest part of their defense for the 2026 season, and a few names have drawn particular interest.
Beyond the top names that are still unsigned, like Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, the ongoing drama between the Cardinals and Josh Sweat has put the former Eagles star on the map in New England.
Considering he's coming off a season where he recorded 12 sacks, it's hard to ignore what kind of production he could add to the Patriots' defense.
But there are some lingering concerns, some of which could be referred to as a headache, that would inevitably come with Sweat, and it might be smarter for Eliot Wolf and Co. to avoid, especially when it would mean they'd have to send a lot of draft capital to Arizona while taking on a $76 million contract.
Part of that headache stems from the fact that Sweat was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) ahead of training camp, and there's no clear indication of when he will be able to return to practice.
The other has been an offseason-long drama that could very easily follow him to Foxboro if the Patriots were to acquire him.
Josh Sweat might not be worth the drama for the Patriots to trade for him
Despite accomplishing one of the best statistical seasons of his eight-year career, Sweat has continued to express his displeasure with the Cardinals and has all but explicitly stated that he wants to play elsewhere.
This comes just one year after he signed a massive contract with the team, which he chose himself. But because the head coach he played for in 2025 was fired, it appears he is no longer interested in remaining in Arizona.
If that remains the case, the Cardinals might be willing to move on from him sooner than they were expecting, and that would likely mean they won't send him to a team he'd prefer. That could be the Patriots, even if they are considered a contender now, and that attitude could follow Sweat to New England.
That's a disaster waiting to happen, and the Patriots don't need that on their team. Because of that, they should probably look elsewhere for the kind of pass rush help their defense is currently lacking.
Some of the players who are still unsigned for the upcoming season would make a lot of sense, particularly Van Noy, who has already had two stints with the team. Although he might not be a Maxx Crosby-type, he's still coming off a few of his best seasons in the league, and he would be an immediate boost to their defensive effort.
Add us as a preferred source on Google