Could the Philadelphia Eagles really look to trade their All-Pro pass rusher in an offseason full of massive acquisitions?
In a salary cap world, it’s not looking like a matter of “if” but “when.” Reddick is coming off a season in which he was the lone Eagles player to record over 10 sacks but was a part of the group that crumbled down the stretch. After a historical 70-sack unit, the 2023 Eagles fell to 26th in the NFL, while being among the worst in yards allowed and points given up.
Now looking to retool the roster, and with pushing off Reddick’s roster bonus, Philadelphia has continued to field calls for the pass rusher.
Haason Reddick Landing Spots in Trade
Losing Reddick wouldn’t be a locker room or production-level concern. If that were the case, his pass-rushing partner Josh Sweat would be the player being moved.
Sweat didn’t finish with 10+ sacks last year despite increasing his sack total every year he’s been in the league to this point. His public comments surrounding the defensive staff also could have rubbed some in the organization the wrong way.
No, the only reason Reddick is potentially being moved from the place he grew up in is due to his contract. The former first-round pick out of Temple is looking for a deal to make him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the game, and Philadelphia has been unwilling to give that type of money to a 29-year-old player.
It’s partly the reason why the Eagles signed Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51 million contract in the first place. With Reddick on the outs, replacing him with a younger version of himself could be the right move for the long-term future of the franchise.
The only real parting question is compensation. Philadelphia has been holding out for a second-round pick, but the longer Reddick remains on the trade block, the more unlikely it is for the organization to get that kind of offer.
That’s why many NFL analysts believe a third-round and late-round pick might be what ends up moving the needle in the first place ahead of the NFL Draft.
Which team will be willing to pay that kind of draft compensation and give Reddick the kind of long-term deal he’s looking for?
Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald is gone. Kobie Turner is coming off an excellent nine-sack season, but there aren’t any legitimate edge rushers on this Rams roster outside of Byron Young.
While the Eagles may not want to send Reddick to a conference rival who could be competing with them for the Super Bowl, L.A. needs an edge rusher and could be willing to part with picks to entice Philly as well.
Baltimore Ravens
Jadeveon Clowney, along with several veterans have left the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. They don’t have the salary cap space like Philadelphia has to give a long-term extension, but they need a quality EDGE who can consistently get after the passer in a loaded AFC. Reddick is the perfect kind of edge rusher for this organization.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are an organization on the rise. With Kirk Cousins leading the charge now at quarterback, the biggest need for the Falcons is an edge rusher.
They could wait with the No. 8 overall pick and select one of the younger players in the draft, or they could trade for a top rusher in the game now. Reddick would be a good fit with Atlanta simply because he would want in and be the team’s best defensive player.
That’s saying something for a top-10 overall group.
New England Patriots
New England is getting back Matthew Judon from a season-ending injury last year, but they need some added depth to the defense as a whole. Josh Uche coming back on a one-year, $3 million deal isn’t enough to help the entire unit.
Reddick would be the situational pass rusher the Patriots are looking for to take the team to the next level. They also have the money to pay him a long-term deal as well.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are a talented defensive unit but in need of a quality EDGE to put it all together. Gus Bradley has a history of getting quality play out of aging pass rushers, and Reddick could be an excellent fit. Reuniting with Shane Steichen would also be enticing simply because the other teams in the AFC South don’t have the best right tackles, either.
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Indianapolis has three picks in the top 100, so there’s some maneuvering to do if they want to give Philadelphia the kind of picks they want.
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