Former Eagles DE Haason Reddick sent shockwaves through the NFL on Monday afternoon. The Jets EDGE rusher reportedly demanded a trade from the New York Jets despite having only been on the team for a matter of months. As far as the Eagles are concerned, this is a monumental win for a number of reasons…but it could be even bigger.
How we got here
The Eagles traded Reddick to the Jets this past offseason following a back-and-forth contract negotiation. The Birds couldn’t afford to pay Reddick what he, and many others, believed he was worth, so began shopping him around the league. While this was going on, the Eagles poached Bryce Huff from the New York Jets – a young edge rusher coming off of an explosive breakout. The writing was on the wall for Reddick, with his replacement now locked in.
Surprisingly, it was the Jets themselves who took the bait and sent a conditional 3rd-rounder in exchange for Reddick’s services. The pick was set to become a 2nd rounder if he played in over 67.5% of snaps and recorded 10+ sacks. The Eagles got their guy and recouped a third-round pick for Reddick, although they would be set to pay over $20M in dead cap.
Fast forward a few months and Reddick wants out of New York. The superstar pass-rusher has been collecting fines and holding out of team workouts in a bid to secure a long-term extension, before eventually forcing his hand. Unfortunately for him, Jets GM Joe Douglas responded to the trade demand with a pretty bleak response:
“We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the CBA if he does not report. Since the trade discussions back in March we have been clear, direct and consistent in our position. Our focus remains on the guys we have here as we prepare for the regular season.”
While a trade does seem unlikely, there is one GM savvy enough to at least explore the opportunity – Eagles GM Howie Roseman.
Should the Eagles be interested in a Haason Reddick reunion?
The Eagles do still have a need at EDGE. While a change to a 3-4 might see more OLB’s and DT’s on the field, there is still a lack of depth when it comes to outside pass-rushers. Brandon Graham is in his final rodeo and while Josh Sweat is a proven commodity, he’s only supported by second-year player Nolan Smith and Bryce Huff, whose breakout was impressive, but was conducted in a rotational role with the Jets. We don’t yet know if he’s ready to fulfil a 3-down role, or better yet what that will look like in this scheme.
The Eagles went out of their way to secure the services of Huff knowing that Reddick would be headed for the exit. But if they can somehow find a way to bring Reddick back, it could actually benefit the team in more ways than one.
For starters, the bigger picture. The Eagles have their long-term answer at the position in Bryce Huff, and recouped a third-round pick for Reddick. They also have $23M in cap space so they could absolutely afford to pay their former EDGE rusher if they so chose. Reddick sought a move away from the team because he wanted the long-term deal he’s been chasing for years. That hasn’t yet happened, so it’s absolutely plausible he decides to chase a short-term contract instead to get the initial money he would in a longer-term contract, while prioritizing playing for a high-level organization chasing a ring.
Reddick wanted to remain in Philadelphia, but the money didn’t work out. If he had a change of heart, is there a better fit for a team who can pay him a strong short-term contract while also providing a shot at a championship?
The other benefit to this would be that the Eagles can keep Bryce Huff where he’s most effective – as a rotational pass-rusher whose explosiveness is kryptonite to worn down offensive fronts. It gives him time to learn from one of the best in the game for a year, while gaining valuable snaps in a new scheme without the immediate pressure of a drastically expanded role which he might not be ready for just yet.
Will a trade happen?
Of course, the caveat here is Joe Douglas likely being highly unwilling to send Reddick back to the team they snatched him from. The Eagles could, in theory, take advantage of a player pushing for two trades in a matter of months and send back less-valuable capital than the third-rounder they netted due to Reddick’s decreased stock.
Imagine a world where the Eagles send a 4th, let’s say, for Haason Reddick. They net a one-round pick gain, poached Bryce Huff from the Jets’ free agency crop, loaned Haason Reddick for 2 months, and get him back anyway. There might be no better trade in NFL history if this somehow does happen, and although unlikely, Howie Roseman is the one GM who could find a way to pull this off.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
