The Dallas Cowboys are 2-4 after six weeks, but they still control their destiny. They need better coaching and production from the players on the field in order for that to happen. Dallas already took a swing and traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but they may not be done.
With the edge room needing more juice, Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat's name has popped up. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano released an article discussing some potential trade candidates and linked Sweat to Dallas.
"The Cowboys might have one more move in them. Perhaps that's shortsighted, given their 2-4 record. But that might as well be 4-4 in this season's NFC East climate, where no commodity is proven and Philly's transitional state has cracked the door open. As one team exec pointed out to me Tuesday, Josh Sweat to Dallas makes a lot of sense. He fits Dallas' profile, and the Cowboys need edge-rush help," Fowler wrote.
The Cowboys have been ultra-aggressive over the last 12-18 months, so the idea of trading for Sweat shouldn't be overlooked.
Even with limited draft capital, a Josh Sweat trade makes sense for Dallas
The Cowboys' draft capital has taken a hit, as they have four picks in next year's draft and will be without their 2028 second-round pick. Yet, that doesn't seem to matter, as Jerry Jones and company are pushing all their chips to the middle of the table.
It's clear the pass rush isn't good enough, so why wouldn't they entertain the idea of landing a player like Sweat? He's over with the Cardinals, who are also 2-4. While they've been competitive, they are still far from being a true contender, so they could offload Sweat to gain more draft picks.
Sweat is a nine-year vet who has played with Arizona and Philadelphia. Across 127 games (87 starts), he has compiled 281 total tackles, 70 TFLs, 57 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles. This season, Sweat has 14 total tackles, two sacks, and 14 QB pressures. He also has four quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds), a time-to-pressure rate of 2.81 seconds, a 10.9 percent pressure rate, and a time-to-sack rate of 4.37 seconds, per Next Gen Stats.
Not only is he able to get after the quarterback, but Sweat is a proven vet who has played in big games, including a Super Bowl. Adding that kind of presence to the locker room could pay dividends, but it would also improve a weak point for this team.
There are also some familiar faces that would make the move easier for Sweat. Ryan Smith and Klayton Adams were coaches on the Cardinals with Sweat before joining Dallas. Emari Demercado and Jalen Thompson are former teammates who were also with Sweat in Glendale.
Aside from the need, there are people in the building who could make the transition easier for him. And when you look at the pass rush for Dallas, they haven't been good enough.
The Cowboys' pass rush hasn't been good enough
After six games, Dallas is tied for 31st in the NFL in team sacks (8). Quinnen Williams is leading the team with two sacks, but he's a defensive tackle. Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence have each added a sack, with Donovan Ezeiruaku adding a half sack.
Gary has 23 QB pressures, yet he has a 7.28-second time-to-sack rate and 2.99 seconds for time to pressure. He does have seven quick pressures, yet they have only translated to a 0.8 percent sack rate.
Ezeiruaku is leading all Cowboys pass rushers in snaps (272), but the results haven't followed. He has 15 pressures, with just one quick pressure. In addition, he has a 0.4 percent sack rate. As for Lawrence, he's still a rookie learning the lay of the land.
In 2025, Lawrence has eight pressures, three quick pressures, but his time-to-sack rate is 6.86 seconds and 2.84 seconds for time to pressure. It's hard to expect him to be the team's best pass rusher as a rookie, which is why the idea of Sweat makes sense.
He's on the books for $23.6 million in 2027 and 2028, but there's an out after the 2027 campaign. That's not a high amount for a more-than-capable pass rusher, and it likely wouldn't cost more than a fourth-rounder.
For a Dallas team that needs pass rush juice, Sweat could be a player who fills in the void and would be the final splash they make to the defensive side of the ball.
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