Fan-Favorite OT Retires at Age 30 After Failed Attempt to Return to Green Bay Despite Willingness to Take Pay Cut – Declares He Will Always Be a Packer

Packers are ALL-IN on a PRO BOWL MONSTER who just SHATTERED his career-high with 12 SACKS! The QB Hunter is COMING HOME! Over the past few days, the Green Bay Packers have aggressively reshaped their edge-rusher group. The team traded away 2025 No. 2 edge defender and former first-round pick Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Shortly afterward, rotational standout Kingsley Enagbare left for the New York Jets on a one-year, $10 million deal. Now Green Bay is actively looking for a veteran presence to stabilize a young and unproven edge room. According to Packer Report’s Easton Butler, Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat has formally requested a trade this week — and the Packers are among the teams showing serious interest. Butler posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday: “Cardinals EDGE Josh Sweat has requested a trade this week, per a source. The Packers and Eagles are both reportedly interested in him. Philly is trying to find another star on the DL, after losing Phillips to Carolina.”   The Eagles, Sweat’s original team, are also pushing to bring the 28-year-old back to Philadelphia, creating immediate competition for Green Bay. Packers Could Benefit From More Experience at Edge Rusher Green Bay’s current edge group is heavy on youth but light on proven production. The Packers still have 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness (13th overall), second-year players Collin Oliver and Barryn Sorrell, and undrafted free agent Brenton Cox Jr., who just signed a one-year extension. None of those names currently project as a reliable No. 2 rusher capable of forming a true one-two punch. Van Ness showed real progress late in 2025 and earned a strong 75.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, yet he finished the season with only 1.5 sacks. That is where a player like Sweat would immediately change the equation. The former Eagles and Cardinals edge defender has recorded two double-digit sack seasons in the last four years and set a new career high with 12 sacks in 2025. His experience and consistent pressure generation would give the Packers exactly the veteran complement they lack.   What Would It Take to Trade for Josh Sweat? Sweat signed a four-year contract last offseason that carries a manageable $18.1 million cap hit in each of the 2026–2028 seasons. That number is considered reasonable for a proven pass rusher, and another strong year could even lead to a renegotiation similar to what Jonathan Greenard received. Now turning 29 later this month and entering his ninth NFL season, Sweat still has plenty left in the tank despite being under-utilized early in his career. Most evaluators believe a mid-third-round to early-fourth-round draft pick would be the fair compensation range. However, if the Eagles or another contender gets aggressive, the price could climb as high as a late second-round selection. With training camp just months away and a young core needing guidance, the Packers appear motivated to add a Pro Bowl-caliber edge rusher who has already asked to leave Arizona. Whether they can outbid Philadelphia remains to be seen, but Green Bay’s reported interest signals they are serious about upgrading the position this offseason.