Cowboys' 'Perfect' Trade Target Revealed by NFL Execs in New Rumors Ahead of 2026 Deadline

As the Dallas Cowboys continue to try to reshape their defense, a high-profile pass-rusher has emerged as a potential trade target.

During an appearance Saturday on SportsCenter , ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that anonymous league executives believe Arizona Cardinals pass-rusher Josh Sweat would be the "perfect profile fit" for Dallas.

"The problem with the Cowboys is they don't have a lot of draft picks but they're looking always for help, and there are pass-rushers," Fowler said. "I'll start with Josh Sweat in Arizona. I checked with a few league execs with other teams who believe that Dallas and Josh Sweat would be a perfect profile fit. Arizona, sitting at 2-4, could try to acquire more draft capital. Edge rusher is a position to watch over the next few weeks leading up to that Nov. 10 deadline. We will see if Sweat is involved in that, there's been some trade rumors around him for a while."

Insiders Name Sleeper Trade Candidates 💤

There is little doubt that the Cowboys need to do something in order to improve on the defensive side of the ball, as they rank 30th in total defense, 25th in scoring defense and tied for 27th in sacks.

Dallas acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in a trade with the New York Jets last season and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers already this season, but neither move has helped the Cowboys move up the ranks defensively.

However, getting a player who can consistently pressure and sack the quarterback could potentially change things since the Cowboys have been missing that element since trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2025 season.

Sweat, 29, is in the midst of his second season with the Cards after signing a four-year, $76.4 million deal in free agency in 2025.

He spent his first seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, earning one Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl win during that time.

Sweat had 43 sacks in 104 regular-season games for the Eagles, but he was at his best on the big stage, recording five sacks in nine playoff games, including 2.5 in Philly's Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

In his first campaign as a member of the Cardinals in 2025, Sweat set a new career high with 12 sacks to go along with four forced fumbles, 30 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits.

Through six games this season, Sweat has registered two sacks, 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.

Although the Cardinals are coming off a huge upset win over the Los Angeles Rams, they are still just 2-4 on the season and not expected to vie for a playoff spot.

Because of that, Sweat could possibly become a trade chip as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches.

Should that be the case, he figures to generate a ton of interest from contenders thanks to his history of playoff success, so it is fair to wonder if the Cowboys would have the assets to get a deal done after trading multiple picks for Williams and Porter already.