After weeks of speculation, the Philadelphia Eagles have finally traded star pass rusher Haason Reddick.
According to multiple reports, Reddick is headed to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now the Eagles will be tasked with trying to fill a void left by the departure of their most productive pass rusher in recent years.
How Can the Eagles Replace Haason Reddick in 2024 and Beyond?
Following their latest trade, the Eagles will be forced to fill a massive hole along the edge of their defense. Despite the signings of Bryce Huff and Zack Baun in free agency, Philadelphia still has questions to answer following Reddick’s departure.
In two seasons with the Eagles, Reddick totaled 27 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was a devastating force off the edge in Philadelphia and quickly outperformed his contract, which is why Reddick was rightfully looking for a new deal this offseason.
Despite Reddick’s elite play over the last two seasons, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman clearly wasn’t willing to meet the 29-year-old’s demands. Roseman instead decided to commit to Huff in free agency, signing him to a three-year, $51 million deal.
Which Players on Philadelphia’s Current Roster Can Replace Reddick?
Based on Philadelphia’s financial commitment to Huff, he is clearly the player the Eagles expect to fill the void left by Reddick’s departure. Huff will turn just 26 years old in April and presents a long-term solution for Philadelphia on the edge.
The main concern with Huff is his ability to handle a significantly larger role with the Eagles. Reddick has played over 800 total snaps in each of his last four seasons.
Huff played a career-high of just 481 total snaps last season. Despite being incredibly disruptive in limited snaps, it’s fair to question if Huff can maintain the same level of productivity on a significantly higher number of snaps.
Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham are reliable veteran edge defenders, but they are under contract for just one more season in Philadelphia. While they will surely contribute next season, there is a chance that neither one will be with the Eagles beyond 2025.
Baun is an intriguing player to watch next season, given how quickly Philadelphia signed him in free agency. Despite being signed to a one-year deal, Baun is a player Roseman specifically mentioned as a target for Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme.
Roseman alluded to Baun offering a similar skillset to Andrew Van Ginkel, who had a lot of success playing for Fangio with the Miami Dolphins last season. Given his ability to rush the passer and drop in coverage, Baun might have a bigger role than expected.
Which Prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft Could Replace Reddick?
While the Eagles didn’t land a pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in exchange for Reddick, they are armed with three selections in the first two rounds. Philadelphia has already shown interest in several of the top edge defenders in this year’s draft class.
The Eagles have placed a high value on their limited top-30 visits before recent drafts. Philadelphia selected seven players in the 2023 NFL Draft; four of their first five selections visited the team during the pre-draft process.
Following Reddick’s departure, it’s worth looking at which edge defenders the Eagles will reportedly host on top-30 visits before the 2024 NFL Draft. Laiatu Latu and Chop Robinson are the two edge defenders listed on the Eagles’ 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Visit Tracker.
KEEP READING: Philadelphia Eagles Depth Chart | Top EDGEs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Latu is regarded as one of the best pass rushers in this year’s draft, although there is one huge concern. Latu was forced to medically retire in 2021, after suffering a neck injury during fall practice in his sophomore year. He returned to action in 2022 and dominated in two years at UCLA. Latu finished with 23.5 sacks and two interceptions in his final two seasons.
Robinson is another pass rusher projected to be selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At just 21 years old, Robinson offers plenty of upside as one of the most athletic edge defenders in this year’s draft class. Robinson has drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
After trading Reddick to the Jets, the Eagles will likely be heavily criticized for the compensation that they received in return for one of the NFL’s best pass rushers. Yet, Philadelphia is actually in a surprisingly strong position heading into 2024 and beyond.