The Colts have performed lots this offseason, however the cross rush nonetheless feels incomplete.
Laiatu Latu provides them one high quality beginning edge rusher, and the additions of Arden Key, Michael Clemons and Colby Wood strengthened the rotation. However depth and a real second cross rusher aren’t the identical factor. If the Colts are severe about constructing a protection that may win proper now, they nonetheless want one other confirmed risk off the sting.
That’s the place Josh Sweat is available in.
In response to Jordan Schultz, a number of groups have expressed curiosity in buying and selling for Sweat, and the Cardinals might be open to transferring him if the fitting provide comes alongside. Sweat is a confirmed veteran edge rusher with good manufacturing, playoff expertise and up to date high-level tape.
Sweat is 29 years outdated and spent the vast majority of his profession with the Eagles earlier than signing an enormous contract with Arizona. He was productive in Philadelphia, helped anchor a robust defensive entrance, and was a part of their Tremendous Bowl-winning workforce. Final season with the Cardinals, he remained a respectable affect cross rusher, ending with 12 sacks and 4 compelled fumbles.
For the Colts, that type of participant would instantly change the complexion of the protection. A entrance that includes Latu, Sweat, DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart would give Indianapolis a way more credible cross rush. It will additionally permit Arden Key, Clemons and the remainder of the group to settle into extra pure rotational roles as a substitute of being requested to offer starter-level manufacturing.
Not relying in your depth to tackle a starter position and really having 4 succesful starters alongside the defensive position is strictly how the Colts can compete in 2026, at the very least defensively.
Do the Colts want an edge?
The Colts have Latu, and he appears like a top quality beginning edge rusher. In addition they added Arden Key, Michael Clemons and Colby Wood to enhance the rotation, which was obligatory. However there’s a distinction between having our bodies and having a real second pass-rushing risk. Secret’s helpful as a pure cross rusher, Clemons is depth, and Wood can transfer across the line, however none of them ought to cease Indianapolis from on the lookout for an actual complement to Latu.
The Colts completed fifteenth within the NFL in sacks final season with 39. That’s high-quality, however it isn’t adequate for a workforce making an attempt to win now, particularly when the secondary is projected to be one of many strengths of the roster. Including Sweat to this group might simply push the cross rush into the highest 10 if every thing else holds regular. He provides them a confirmed double-digit sack risk, one other participant offensive strains must account for, and somebody who can win with no need the whole entrance designed round him.
That additionally helps Latu. Proper now, Latu is the one edge rusher groups can deal with. Put Sweat on the other facet and that modifications as a result of offenses can’t slide every thing towards Latu as simply, and in the event that they do, Sweat is nice sufficient to punish them. That type of stability is what turns a cross rush from okay into elite territory.
The ripple impact is simply as necessary. Extra strain means faster throws, rushed choices and extra possibilities for the secondary to make performs. With Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward exterior, and Cam Bynum serving to stabilize the again finish, the Colts have the protection expertise to make the most of strain. A stronger rush would make that secondary much more harmful.
It additionally helps the run protection. Sweat is not only a one-dimensional cross rusher, and a entrance with Latu, Sweat, Buckner and Stewart provides the Colts respectable power at each spot of the road. With CJ Allen behind them, out of the blue the protection has a a lot clearer construction. Buckner and Stewart can management the inside, Sweat and Latu can set the sting and create strain, and Allen can clear up behind them.
If the Colts are severe about successful in 2026, that is precisely the kind of transfer that matches. They don’t want one other rotational piece; they want a participant who modifications how offenses put together for them.
How a lot wouldn’t it price to amass him?
That is the place the dialog will get attention-grabbing, as a result of edge rushers aren’t low-cost after they turn out to be out there.
The easiest way to border Sweat’s worth is by latest commerce comps. Brian Burns was traded for a second-round choose and a fifth-round choose. Montez Sweat was traded for a second-round choose. Matthew Judon, who was older on the time of his commerce, went for a third-round choose. These offers give us a fairly cheap vary.
Burns and Montez Sweat had been each round 27 years outdated after they had been moved, so that they had been a bit youthful than Josh Sweat is now. Judon was 32, which makes him the older veteran comparability. Josh Sweat sits within the center at 29 years outdated.
Due to that, a second-round choose in all probability will get the deal performed. If the Colts provided a second, Arizona would have a tough time saying no until there are a number of groups bidding. However that feels a bit of wealthy from the Colts’ perspective, particularly with the workforce already lacking a first-round choose and needing to fill a number of different roster holes.
A extra sensible provide can be one thing like a third spherical choose and a fifth spherical choose or a future 4th spherical choose as a substitute of the fifth rounder.
That feels just like the candy spot. It’s greater than only a mid-round flyer, so Arizona will get some worth again. It additionally protects the Colts from overpaying for a 29-year-old edge rusher on a big contract. Sweat is an excellent participant, however he isn’t 25 years outdated and simply coming into his prime. There needs to be some stability.
So if we’re placing a quantity on it, I’d peg Sweat’s commerce worth round a 3rd and a fifth. A second-rounder possible wins the negotiation, however a third-plus-fifth might be the type of provide Indianapolis ought to be making first.
His contract for 2026 and past
Sweat signed a four-year, $76.4 million cope with Arizona, however the buying workforce wouldn’t be taking up the total cap burden the way in which the Cardinals at present are. In response to Over The Cap, Sweat carries a $16.385 million cap hit in 2026, but when he had been traded, the Colts can be accountable for roughly $10.88 million this season. That could be very manageable for a starting-caliber edge rusher with latest double-digit sack manufacturing.
The long run years are dearer, however nonetheless not unreasonable. Sweat is about to make roughly $18.1 million in money in each 2027 and 2028, with cap hits of $23.605 million in every season underneath his present construction. There may be additionally flexibility after 2026, which is necessary. If the Colts traded for him and issues didn’t work out, they might not essentially be locked right into a long-term catastrophe.
That makes the contract fairly interesting from Indianapolis’ perspective. The Colts at present have round $31 million in cap area, so absorbing Sweat’s 2026 price wouldn’t be an issue. Even after accounting for in-season flexibility and common roster upkeep, they might nonetheless have room to function.
The larger query is whether or not they need to tackle the 2027 and 2028 commitments. That’s the place the choice turns into extra difficult. Sweat can’t be considered as a one-year rental for the reason that Colts are giving up respectable draft capital to amass him. He would possible be considered as a multi-year piece, and which means committing actual cash to a participant coming into his age-30 season in 2027. There’s a likelihood he asks for a contract extension as effectively.
Nonetheless, this isn’t an outrageous contract for a productive edge rusher. In immediately’s market, paying round $18 million per yr in money for a confirmed cross rusher is cheap. If something, the contract turns into a part of the argument for making the transfer, not towards it.
The Colts have the area to do it. The contract provides them flexibility after 2026. And in the event that they imagine Sweat may be the lacking piece throughout from Latu, the cash shouldn’t be what stops them.
Sure, however solely on the proper worth.
If the associated fee is a third-round choose and a fifth-round choose, the Colts ought to significantly think about it. Sweat fills a transparent want, his 2026 cap quantity is manageable, and he would instantly elevate the ceiling of the protection. This isn’t including depth for the sake of depth. That is including a confirmed cross rusher to a workforce that badly wants one throughout from Latu.
The contract shouldn’t be the difficulty. The Colts have the cap area to soak up him, and his deal consists of flexibility after 2026 if issues don’t work out. For a workforce clearly making an attempt to win now, that sort of construction is smart. Sweat provides them assist instantly with out forcing them into a totally reckless long-term dedication.
The draft compensation is the place the road must be drawn. A second-round choose is an excessive amount of. The Colts already would not have a first-round choose in 2027, and giving up their second-rounder would depart them with no choose in both of the primary two rounds. For a roster that also has holes and isn’t actually within the higher class of the AFC, that may be a harmful spot to place your self in. Groups which might be one piece away can justify that type of transfer extra simply. The Colts try to get there, however they aren’t there but.
That’s the reason a 3rd and a fifth looks like the fitting vary. It’s aggressive sufficient to make an actual provide, however not reckless sufficient to strip away the Colts’ remaining premium flexibility. If Arizona needs a second, the Colts ought to in all probability stroll away. If the worth settles nearer to a third-round choose with one other Day 3 choice hooked up, that’s when the transfer turns into a lot simpler to defend.
Sweat would make the Colts higher instantly. He would give the protection a respectable second edge rusher, assist Latu, make life simpler for Buckner and Stewart, and provides the secondary extra possibilities to capitalize on rushed throws.
