The silver lining to the Arizona Cardinals' 17-3 loss against the divisional rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday is that it should give them a clearer sense of direction approaching Tuesday's trade deadline. Arizona is now 3-6 and falling out of the NFC West playoff picture. They've also learned from the switch from Jacoby Brissett to Gardner Minshew II that the problems on this roster unfortunately go well beyond quarterback.
With so many holes and a season slipping away at midseason, it's time for the Cardinals to embrace the rebuild. They already have to an extent, turning Marvin Harrison Jr. and Brissett into future draft capital. But GM Monti Ossenfort shouldn't stop there, especially when it comes to these veterans who all happen to be on the defensive side of the ball.
1. Josh Sweat, EDGE
Josh Sweat is Arizona's most-discussed trade candidate. It's easy to see why since he's requested a trade after the Cardinals moved on from Jonathan Gannon. Ossenfort shot down trades heading into the season after Sweat's productivity last year, but he hasn't been on the same pace.
To make matters more complicated, Sweat reportedly is seeking a new deal. The Cardinals need Sweat's impact on defense but must also prioritize the future. It makes sense to proactively get ahead of his new deal with a move at the deadline.
Could a reunion with Gannon in Green Bay be a possibility? The Dallas Cowboys are another team that keeps coming up.
2. Budda Baker, S
Budda Baker is the hardest name to put on this list simply because of what he means for this franchise. He's still playing at a high level at 30, but is exactly why the Cardinals should take advantage of this window.
Baker would be open to the idea of playing for a contender, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. One team floated is the Buffalo Bills, who would be as good as shot as any for Baker to get that ring. It could be an ideal pairing if a contender like Buffalo views him as that piece to truly get them over the top and is still willing to surrender a valuable draft pick or two because of it.
3. Garrett Williams, CB
Garrett Williams is a polarizing player when it comes to what the Cardinals should do with their former third-round pick. Taken in 2023 out of Syracuse, Williams is in the final year of his rookie deal. But he suffered a brutal Achilles tear last year, making this a risky long-term investment for Ossenfort.
At 25, he fits the Cardinals' young core and remains one of their best corners when healthy. But Arizona also isn't in a position in this rebuild to take on that level of risk when they already have an opportunity to flip him into additional picks. Not to say those picks are guaranteed either, but they would be cheaper and, most importantly, allow Arizona to reset its rebuilding timeline.
This team needs to take one step back to better position itself for the future, so it has a high enough ceiling to contend in the NFC West. The idea of trading Williams may come as a surprise to some, but then again it's this level of talent that's actually going to net them meaningful future assets.
4. Zaven Collins, EDGE
Zaven Collins was the Cardinals' first-round pick back in 2021. This would be more of a move on the margins for a team needing to address their edge depth, since he's on an expiring $2.96 million deal. Collins wouldn't get as much of a haul for the Cardinals, but that could also make him the most realistic trade candidate, since teams won't be as hesitant to pull the trigger.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals would be wise to flip Collins into future picks, as they don't want to risk letting him walk in free agency for nothing.
It remains to be seen which of this list, if any, Ossenfort will actually trade away. Just because they shipped Harrison and Brissett doesn't necessarily mean they will take a strong sellers stance at the deadline. But with many of the offensive assets outside of the untouchable Trey McBride either already gone or injured, it makes sense for Ossenfort to turn to the defensive side and see what they can get for some of these veterans who just don't quite fit the long-term picture.
Hopefully the loss in Seattle gives Arizona the push it needs to further lean into its rebuild, and trading away some combination of Sweat, Baker, Williams, and Collins would be a huge step in the right direction. The Cardinals actually hitting on their draft picks is another issue entirely, but for now they need to worry about stockpiling future assets. The clock is ticking to add more picks.
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