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Leading up to the start of NFL free agency, many people projected the Arizona Cardinals and pass rusher Josh Sweat, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, would be a good fit.
Sweat agrees.
After signing his four-year deal to join the Cardinals worth a reported $76.4 million, Sweat called coming to the Cardinals "a no-brainer."
Why?
"Really great situation. People I've already been around and won games with, so I know it's the right situation, for sure," he said.
He was referring to the fact that he knew Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis from their time with the Eagles. Gannon was Philly's defensive coordinator Rallis the linebackers coach in 2021-2022. They made it to the Super Bowl in 2022, and Sweat had two of his best seasons, making the Pro Bowl in 2021 and logging a career-high 11 sacks in 2022.
He had connections with the team already as he was previously teammates with linebackers Kyzir White and Julian Okwara, although both are currently free agents.
But Sweat didn't rely on them to get a gauge on how the Cardinals are as a team.
"I actually just wanted to make a decision on my own," he said. "I really didn't speak to many players that have reached out. I was just like, I'm gonna make this decision on my own for me, no influence from anybody."
He is excited to be considered the team's No. 1 pass rusher, but that isn't what he is primarily focused on.
"I'm a football player, so I make plays, whether it's pass rush or not," he explained. "I make tackles, I don't care. I can stop the run, play blocks, whatever. Now my passion is pass rushing, but my passion is also being a great football player, affecting the game however I can. Doesn't matter if it's pass or not."
And more importantly, "I just want to win more games."
He saw how the Cardinals doubled their win total from four to eight in 2024. "Whatever I can do to just help get over the hump, win more games, that's all I want to do," he said.
He knew the money was going to be good no matter where he landed. "You never know if you're really going to be happy, but in the position to be where I think I'm going to end up being the happiest. So that's what it was."
There are high expectations for Sweat. He is ready for them.
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: Signing with Arizona Cardinals was 'a no-brainer' for Josh Sweat
Continue reading...
Sweat agrees.
After signing his four-year deal to join the Cardinals worth a reported $76.4 million, Sweat called coming to the Cardinals "a no-brainer."
Why?
"Really great situation. People I've already been around and won games with, so I know it's the right situation, for sure," he said.
He was referring to the fact that he knew Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis from their time with the Eagles. Gannon was Philly's defensive coordinator Rallis the linebackers coach in 2021-2022. They made it to the Super Bowl in 2022, and Sweat had two of his best seasons, making the Pro Bowl in 2021 and logging a career-high 11 sacks in 2022.
He had connections with the team already as he was previously teammates with linebackers Kyzir White and Julian Okwara, although both are currently free agents.
But Sweat didn't rely on them to get a gauge on how the Cardinals are as a team.
"I actually just wanted to make a decision on my own," he said. "I really didn't speak to many players that have reached out. I was just like, I'm gonna make this decision on my own for me, no influence from anybody."
He is excited to be considered the team's No. 1 pass rusher, but that isn't what he is primarily focused on.
"I'm a football player, so I make plays, whether it's pass rush or not," he explained. "I make tackles, I don't care. I can stop the run, play blocks, whatever. Now my passion is pass rushing, but my passion is also being a great football player, affecting the game however I can. Doesn't matter if it's pass or not."
And more importantly, "I just want to win more games."
He saw how the Cardinals doubled their win total from four to eight in 2024. "Whatever I can do to just help get over the hump, win more games, that's all I want to do," he said.
He knew the money was going to be good no matter where he landed. "You never know if you're really going to be happy, but in the position to be where I think I'm going to end up being the happiest. So that's what it was."
There are high expectations for Sweat. He is ready for them.
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: Signing with Arizona Cardinals was 'a no-brainer' for Josh Sweat
Continue reading...
