Dealing Haason Reddick appeared inevitable based mostly on how the Philadelphia Eagles offseason transpired. Philadelphia signed Bryce huff on the primary day of free company and restructured Josh Sweat’s contract every week later, setting the stage for Reddick’s remaining days as an Eagle.
Reddick needed a pay increase for previous efficiency and it was simple to know his case. Solely Reddick and Myles Garrett had 10+ sacks in every of the final 4 years — and Reddick completed the feat with 4 totally different defensive coordinators and three totally different groups. The Eagles paid Reddick a median annual wage of $15 million per season, good for twentieth amongst edge rushers within the NFL.
By all accounts, Reddick was underpaid. The Eagles weren’t going to offer Reddick a major bump in pay or a brand new contract for a 30-year-old cross rusher. Reddick was traded to the New York Jets for a conditional 2026 third-round choose (which is bumped as much as a second-round choose if Reddick will get 10+ sacks or performs 67.5% of the snaps).
The commerce did make sense for the Eagles, but they’re taking an enormous gamble by shifting on from Reddick when he has some good soccer left.
One-year left on the deal
The Eagles might have altered Reddick’s deal just like how they restructured Sweat’s contract, permitting him to stroll after the 2024 season as a free agent. The 2026 conditional third-round choose is effective for the franchise to stay at a Tremendous Bowl contending degree in future years, but Reddick retains the workforce in Tremendous Bowl competition for 2024.
Regardless how the Eagles cross rush fared on the finish of the yr final season (twenty ninth in sack fee at 5.3%), Reddick was nonetheless one of the best cross rusher of a bunch that disappeared. His 2.5 sacks trailed solely Fletcher Cox throughout that stretch and his 7.9% stress fee additionally trailed solely Cox.
The Eagles misplaced their two greatest cross rushers this offseason with Cox retiring and buying and selling Reddick. By signing off, the Eagles had the cash to permit Reddick to maintain enjoying in 2024 in a rotation with Huff and Sweat. The cross rush might have returned to 2022 kind with these three main the way in which, Nolan Smith having one other yr to develop, and Brandon Graham enjoying a restricted function.
That group might have arguably been one of the best cross rush within the NFL. Paying Reddick assured cash and parting methods with him after subsequent season might have elevated the possibilities at making the Tremendous Bowl once more. Reddick’s capability to get to the passer was huge in Philadelphia profitable the NFC Championship two seasons in the past.
Too many wild playing cards in cross rush
The Eagles have extra “ifs” within the cross rush, than the sure “certain factor” in Reddick. Sweat has 31 sacks during the last 4 seasons, however did not have any sacks and a ten.3% stress fee from Week 13 by 18 final season (when the Eagles misplaced 5 of six to shut the common season). Within the yr prior, Sweat had 6.5 sacks from Weeks 13-18 with a 12.6% stress fee and he had 4.0 sacks with a 15.8% stress fee in 2021.
The Eagles seem like treating 2023 as an anomaly for Sweat relatively than the norm. Huff, on the the opposite hand, is what the Eagles are banking on to copy Reddick’s manufacturing. Huff’s 21.3% stress fee final season trailed solely Micah Parsons amongst cross rushers with 250+ snaps. He completed with 10 sacks regardless of enjoying 47% of the snaps.
Philadelphia is hoping an elevated quantity of snaps for Huff will lead to extra sacks and a excessive stress fee. Being 25 years previous to Reddick’s 30 was one more reason the Eagles determined to pay Huff at a price they had been comfy with. Philadelphia is paying for future manufacturing as an alternative of previous manufacturing.
Nolan Smith had one sack and eight pressures in 182 snaps final season, because the Eagles are prepared to offer the 2023 first-round choose an expanded function. Brandon Graham is enjoying his fifteenth and remaining season at 36 years previous and free agent signing Zack Baun can even be a part of the cross rush rotation.
The Eagles do not have an elite cross rusher like Reddick on the roster. They’re hoping Huff turns into one over the lifetime of his contract and Sweat turns into the nearer he was on the finish of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Philadelphia can be hoping Smith takes the subsequent step as properly.
This can be a main gamble for 2024, one that would have been prevented by paying Reddick high greenback for this yr than shifting on. The commerce was one, however maintaining Reddick on the roster would have been higher.