A Potential Haason Reddick Trade? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

While the Super Bowl was the perfect way to kick off the week, Eagles fans received some frightening news on Sunday.

Sources: #Eagles All-Pro edge rusher Haason Reddick has received permission to seek a trade following another disruptive season featuring double digit sacks. The 29-year old with 27 sacks over two seasons in Philly could land elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/WxIGTac24M

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 11, 2024

A panic was set in before the big game had even started. Would the Eagles really end up trading their star Defensive End?

Thankfully on Wednesday, some more information came out on this catastrophic situation.

Just spoke to #Eagles All-Pro pass-rusher Haason Reddick, who tells me he never requested a trade and he wants to stay in Philadelphia. “I would like to get an extension done here at home. At no point did I ever tell the organization I want to be traded.”

Reddick has one year… pic.twitter.com/qLsJpWYrG9

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 13, 2024

Reddick himself confirmed that HE was not the one to ask for the trade request. Which asks the question, where did the trade request come from?

Nothing New From Howie Roseman

There was more than enough reason to panic. Nothing like hearing your Defensive Player of the Year Finalist could be on a new team soon. But after the news was confirmed that Reddick wasn’t seeking the trade himself. Things began to make more sense, as this isn’t the first time the Eagles have gone about contract negotiations with a potential trade.

Just days before free agency of the 2023 season started. The Eagles and Darius Slay were in a similar situation. While the Eagles eventually cut Slay at the start of free agency. Only 1 day later, and Slay was back with Philly on a brand new 3 Year, $42 million deal.

Hopefully if this situation unfolds the same way. Reddick will find himself with a new contract, and a lengthy stay in Philadelphia.

On The Other Side Of The Coin

But what if the Eagles DID trade Haason Reddick? Currently, Reddick is the 21st highest paid edge rusher(per spotrac). Since joining the Eagles in 2022, let’s see how Reddick compares to some of the highest paid edge rushers.

1. ($34M) Nick Bosa, 33 Games Played, 30 Sacks
2. ($28M) T.J. Watt, 27 Games Played, 24.5 Sacks
3. ($27M) Joey Bosa, 14 Games Played, 9 Sacks
4. ($25M) Myles Garrett, 32 Games Played, 33 Sacks
5. ($24.5M) Montez Sweat, 34 Games Played, 20.5 Sacks
6. ($24M) Rashan Gary, 26 Games Played, 15 Sacks
7. ($23.5M) Maxx Crosby, 34 Games Played, 27 Sacks
8. ($23.5M) Khalil Mack, 34 Games Played, 25 Sacks

With 27.5 Sacks of his own, it’s clear enough that the contract Howie Roseman was able to get Reddick on was a highlight of the 2022 Off-season. Expecting to see an extension somewhere above the $25 Million average, the Eagles could be in an even longer off-season next year with Reddick, Sweat, Smith and Dickerson all due for large contracts.

The Last Huge Edge To Get Traded

It’s been almost 6 years since the Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Bears. In his debut season with Chicago he put up 12.5 Sacks in only 14 games! The price to pay for a 27-year old Khalil Mack? Not only was it a 6-year, $141M contract. The Bears also received a 2020 2nd round pick (TE Cole Kmet) and a 2020 7th (OL Arlington Hambright) in the trade. However, Chicago sent 4 draft picks to the then Oakland Raiders which ended up becoming:

• 2019 1st (RB Josh Jacobs)
• 2019 6th (CB Blessuan Austin) – This pick was traded to the Jets, which resulted in a 2019 5th (WR Hunter Renfrow)
• 2020 1st (CB Damon Arnette)
• 2020 3rd (WR Bryan Edwards)

At the time of this trade, Mack was 27. However 4 years later, the Bears would get the following when they traded a 30-year old Mack to the Chargers:

• 2022 2nd (S Jaquan Brisker)
• 2023 6th (DL Scott Matlock) – This pick was traded back to the Chargers, which resulted in 2 2022 7th’s (S Elijah Hicks & P Trenton Gill)

With 1 season left on Reddick’s contract, the Eagles could end up with a 1st round pick and more. While losing the star edge rusher would leave 862 defensive snaps to fill, the Eagles could stock up on more draft picks and attempt to make a splash on upcoming free agents like Danielle Hunter, Chase Young or Marcus Davenport.

For the record, I’d love to keep Reddick as long as we can. However with him and Josh Sweat due in 2025, sometimes tough choices have to be made.

What would you do with this situation if you were in Howie Roseman’s shoes?

Go Birds!

Photo Credit: AP Photo / Chris Szagola