As free agency nears, the Philadelphia Eagles are calling teams across the NFL trying to trade top pass rusher Haason Reddick.
Earlier this offseason, the Eagles granted Reddick permission to seek a trade, just one year removed from the 29-year-old posting a career-high 16 sacks as a driving force behind Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl.
However, with Vic Fangio arriving as the Philadelphia Eagles’ new defensive coordinator, the organization appears set to overhaul the position. Especially following Reddick’s disappearance down the stretch of the Eagles’ disappointing 1-6 finishing stretch of the 2023 regular season, and eventual playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card round.
Not an either/or situation, from what I understand. If the #Eagles can move both Reddick and Sweat, they will, and then be aggressive in how they replace them.
Everyone has a price, but the team was also not happy with the lack of production from the starting edges and how they… https://t.co/LAu8mv9iPm
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 9, 2024
Reddick is set to count $21.8 million against the cap in 2024, which could make finding a trade partner problematic or force the Philadelphia Eagles to focus on moving him to a team with plenty of spending flexibility under the cap.
Here’s a look at three ideal trade fits the Philadelphia Eagles could look to deal Haason Reddick, who has 58 career sacks along with 410 total tackles.
Philadelphia Eagles Most Likely Haason Reddick Trade Partners
Houston Texans
One of the Houston Texans’ likely top organizational priorities this offseason is adding a dominant pass-rusher to pair opposite disruptive rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr.
Anderson Jr. burst onto the scene, after being chosen with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft, by producing seven sacks and 45 total tackles. While the Texans could look to re-sign Jonathan Greenard, upgrading the position with a proven commodity such as Reddick could be too alluring to pass up.
The Texans have among the most spending flexibility in the league, with $62.8 million in cap space, so general manager Nick Caserio and Co. could easily absorb Reddick’s exorbitant cap hit, or extend his deal following a trade.
Chicago Bears
General manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears have a glaring need at edge rusher and the resources to be big players at the position this offseason.
Even after trading for, and signing Montez Sweat to a contract extension last fall, the Bears will likely aim to upgrade the position opposite him either via free agency or the NFL Draft.
Only three teams have more cap space than the Bears’ $63.5 million in spending flexibility ahead of the new league year beginning and free agency getting underway. Similar to trading a second-round draft choice for Sweat, Poles and the Bears could look to jump the line ahead of free agency and the draft by dealing a pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Reddick.
New England Patriots
Similar to the Chicago Bears, the New England Patriots have plenty of resources this offseason and a glaring deficiency in the front seven. The Patriots’ mediocre pass-rush is compounded by the fact that New England faces elite quarterbacks Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and in 2024, Aaron Rodgers just within the AFC East.
As the Patriots aim to rebuild the franchise in new head coach Jerod Mayo’s image, this is a defense in dramatic need of upgrading its pass-rush. Last season, New England managed only 36 sacks, representing the sixth-fewest in the league.
New England is currently projected to be $75.2 million under the cap. From a Philadelphia Eagles perspective, unlike dealing Reddick to the Bears, a trade with the Patriots would also move Haason Reddick out of the NFC.