The Philadelphia Eagles may have just made the most costly miscalculation of their offseason.
When Josh Sweat signed a 4-year, $76.4 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in March, the move raised eyebrows across the league. After all, Sweat had just anchored the NFL's top-ranked defense in 2024, leading the Eagles in sacks and putting together the most complete season of his career. Now, he’s gone—and questions are mounting in Philadelphia.
According to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, the Cardinals' acquisition of Sweat is among the best offseason moves league-wide. "Adding Josh Sweat in free agency addressed Arizona’s massive need for proven pass-rush help," Sando wrote. "Sweat’s 43 sacks for Philadelphia since 2019 dwarf the totals for any Cardinal over that span."
It also reunites Sweat with Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals' head coach and former Eagles defensive coordinator. The chemistry and familiarity make the fit seamless. As Sando noted, despite Sweat's knee needing ongoing management, his upside is undeniable.
For Philadelphia, the story is more complicated. The Eagles chose to invest $51.1 million in Bryce Huff, locking him down with a three-year deal. Huff, however, failed to live up to the billing in 2024. Meanwhile, Sweat played under a one-year, $10 million deal and responded with a monster season: 41 tackles, 8 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits. He capped it all off with a Super Bowl performance for the ages—6 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a team-high six pressures.
"Josh Sweat generated a team-high six pressures on 34 pass rushes in Super Bowl LIX," reported Next Gen Stats. "He registered four of his six pressures on early downs, including every one of his sacks."
Rather than match Arizona’s offer, the Eagles opted for a patchwork solution. They signed Joshua Uche to a one-year, $1.92 million deal and added Azeez Ojulari for $3 million. While both bring potential, neither boasts Sweat's proven impact. Uche has just 20.5 sacks in five seasons. Ojulari—though productive when healthy—has missed 22 games over the last three years.
Philadelphia is hoping its "strength in numbers" approach on the edge will hold. But replacing a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher who just dominated the Super Bowl won’t be easy.
Was letting Sweat walk a necessary cap move or a misjudged risk? If early indicators are correct, the Eagles may have gambled and lost.
One thing is certain: all eyes will be on both Bryce Huff and Josh Sweat in 2025. Only time will reveal who truly won this split.
