The Philadelphia Eagles traded star edge-rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets on Friday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The news doesn’t come as a huge surprise after reports indicated on Super Bowl Sunday that Reddick was given permission to find a trade and was looking for a lucrative extension:
Reddick himself pushed back on those rumors, however:
But once the Eagles signed edge-rusher Bryce Huff—and more rumors followed that the team was shopping both Reddick and Josh Sweat—it seemed his time in Philadelphia was nearing its end.
Regardless, he’s probably earned a bigger payday. Since joining the Eagles ahead of the 2022 season, the 29-year-old has posted 27 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, 49 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four passes defensed in 34 games.
Reddick now has registered four straight seasons with double-digit sacks and has been a Pro Bowler in each of the past two campaigns. He was one of the few bright spots for a beleaguered Eagles defense in 2023.
He clearly was hoping for a bigger contract after posting 16 sacks in 2022, but the Eagles—just one year after inking him to a three-year, $45 million contract—didn’t rework his deal.
“Y’all see it, y’all know what’s going on,” he told reporters last offseason when asked if he thought he was underpaid. “I’m worried about being the best version of myself, and then everything will sort itself out, truly.”
Losing Reddick calls into serious question how the Eagles will consistently generate a pass rush next season. Last year’s first-round pick, Nolan Smith, will need to take a leap in his second season, while big things are expected from Huff in a bigger role. Veteran Brandon Graham also returns, and it remains to be seen if Sweat will stick around with Reddick traded.
As for the Jets, Reddick is an instant upgrade off the edge and immediately improves their overall defense, which was already one of the league’s best. This trade made sense for both sides.
2024-03-29 20:17:09
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