Arizona Cardinals get good grade for free agent deal with LB Josh Sweat

The Arizona Cardinals made one of the biggest deals in free agency, signing linebacker Josh Sweat to a four-year contract worth $76.4 million. It was the biggest deal given to an edge defender so far this offseason.

How is that deal viewed?

ESPN's Seth Wadder gives the deal a 'B'.

Sweat is coming off what was, in some ways, a down season for him. From 2021 to 2023, Sweat recorded a well-above-average 21% pass rush win rate at edge and recorded 27.5 sacks in that span, postseason included. In 2024, his win rate at edge dropped to 11%, though he had 10.5 sacks, including the postseason.
He had a huge Super Bowl (2.5 sacks) and could have been the Super Bowl MVP. And part of what he showed in the Super Bowl -- pushing the pocket to put Patrick Mahomes under duress (as opposed to going around a blocker) -- doesn't always show up perfectly in the win rates. Sweat's pass rush get-off (time to cross the line of scrimmage) was much slower this season, slowing from 0.73 seconds in 2023 to 0.85 seconds, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That might not sound like a big change, but it is.
Because of the numbers above, I was prepared to be somewhat critical of a Sweat signing. But the edge market has been much cheaper than I anticipated, and this isn't that much money when we compare it to past deals. After adjusting for cap inflation, Smith's $19.1 million APY value is roughly equivalent to Frank Clark's deal with the Chiefs in 2022 or Romeo Okwara's contract with the Lions in 2021. That seems fine, and there's some upside for the Cardinals. If he goes back to winning at the level he did prior to 2024 -- or keeps playing like he did in the Super Bowl -- then this signing is a bargain.

This is fair. The free agent market has changed. $30 million is the new $20 million.

It used to be that $20 million a year is for the elite guys, pass rushers you expect to get 10-15 sacks. Those guys are getting much more.

While it is possible that Cardinals fans will be disappointed with around eight sacks a season, that is probably what this contract is worth.

If he can be a double-digit sack guy, then it is a great deal.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL free agent grades: Arizona Cardinals praised for Josh Sweat deal

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