March 12 is the first day of NFL free agency when teams, usually for a pretty penny, acquire who they hope is exactly the right guy to strengthen their club.
The Arizona Cardinals are in position to dramatically make a statement in free agency.
They have money burning a hole in their pocket, with almost $78 million of cap space, according to Over The Cap. And they have obvious needs to improve their 8-9, non-playoff team.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat has been rated the third-best available free agent by CBS Sports' Pete Prisco. Prisco names the Cardinals as a projected landing spot.
How perfect for the Cardinals, who need serious help along the defensive front. Conveniently, Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon was Sweat's defensive coordinator in 2001 and 2002 in Philadelphia.
The Cardinals ranked 21st in defense and 13th in sacks last season. After seeing the Eagles' pass rush harass Patrick Mahomes and render the NFL's best quarterback basically useless in the Super Bowl, the rest of the league can see the importance of getting after the quarterback.
Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat should be Cardinals' top free-agent target
Sweat, 27, had eight sacks last season while playing 63 percent of the snaps. He also had a game-high 2.5 sacks and seven quarterback pressures in the Eagles' 40-22 victory over Kansas City in the Super Bowl.
Sweat has 43 sacks and 97 quarterback hits in 104 games over seven years. He is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He uses his superior speed to get past offensive tackles and pressure the quarterback.
If you're a Cardinals fan, that's exactly what you want to hear.
Arizona's defense is right in the mushy middle of the NFL, not good enough to contend, and needs help. In a difficult division with good teams and good quarterbacks — the Rams (Matthew Stafford), 49ers (Brock Purdy) and Seahawks (Geno Smith) — the Cardinals' urgency for an improved defense could not be more pressing.
Mock drafts indicate the Cardinals are looking for a defensive lineman. With a quality free-agent signing and a winning draft pick at No. 16, Arizona has a chance to quickly improve its greatest weakness.
The NFL allows a two-day negotiation period starting March 10 at 4 p.m. ET. It won't be surprising if the Cardinals' first phone call is to Sweat or his agents.