Haason Reddick

Eagles Taking Trade Calls On Josh Sweat

We heard last month that the Eagles were allowing Haason Reddick to seek a trade, and the team is reportedly taking calls on another top pass rusher. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Eagles are “having trade calls on” defensive end Josh Sweat. Dianna Russini of The Athletic adds that the Eagles have been shopping both Sweat and Reddick for “the last few weeks.”

[RELATED: Teams Inquiring On Eagles’ Haason Reddick]

A former fourth-round pick, Sweat has emerged into one of the Eagles’ top edge rushers, compiling 31 sacks over the past four seasons. Following an 11-sack campaign in 2022, Sweat’s numbers took a bit of a step back in 2023, as the 26-year-old finished with 6.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus also seemed to recognize the drop in production; after ranking Sweat ninth among edge rushers in 2022, the site listed him 33rd for his 2023 performance.

Sweat is heading into the final season of a three-year, $40MM extension he signed with the Eagles back in 2021. While his $9MM cap number won’t break the bank in 2024, the team may be looking to prepare for his exit now. As Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, it’s not an “either/or” when it comes to moving on from Sweat and Reddick, as the team would consider dealing both players in the right moves. Further, McLane notes that the organization hasn’t been happy with the duo’s recent production, especially in the second half of last season.

As NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah points out, moving on from Sweat (and, potentially, Reddick) would surely put the Eagles in the market for a pass rusher. Russini points to one potential free agent target: Bryce Huff. The former UDFA had a breakout season for the Jets in 2023, finishing with 10 sacks despite appearing in fewer than 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Thanks to that performance, Pro Football Focus gave Huff a top-10 grade for his pass-rushing ability.

Clearing up the depth chart would also open a spot for Nolan Smith, the team’s first-round pick in 2023. Smith struggled to carve out a role as a rookie. While he got into all 17 games, he was limited to 18 tackles and one sack while playing the majority of his snaps on special teams. As James Palmer of NFL Network points out, Smith underwent “a maintenance procedure on his shoulder” this offseason that should prepare him for a larger workload in 2024. Further, Palmer notes that the Eagles “feel good about the trajectory” of the first-round pick’s development, an indication that Smith could be eyeing more responsibility in his sophomore season.

Teams Inquiring On Eagles’ Haason Reddick

Granted permission to see what is out there in a trade, Haason Reddick attempted to make clear he did not make this request and wants to stay with his hometown team. But the Eagles are receiving interest in the accomplished pass rusher.

Tied to a deal he has outplayed, Reddick is going into a contract year. Teams have reached out to the Eagles about the standout edge defender, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Reddick is tied to a $14.25MM base salary but a $21.88MM cap number for the 2024 season.

Reddick signed a three-year, $45MM Eagles deal in 2022. His dominant showing that season played a major role in the Eagles voyaging to Super Bowl LVII, and it showed the bargain the team landed by giving Reddick that contract. Once stationed as an off-ball linebacker in Arizona, Reddick has consistently shown his sack acumen in the years since.

He has led the Eagles in sacks in each of the past two seasons, ripping off 16 during the 2022 regular season — nearly helping the Eagles take down the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record — and 3.5 more in the playoffs. Reddick totaled 11 sacks last season. Given the going rate for high-end pass rushers, Reddick being tied to this contract will seemingly force a resolution before the start of the 2024 campaign.

“This is home for me,” Reddick said earlier this month. “I was born and raised here. Two of the most fun years playing football in my life came here. I’ve cherished being an Eagle.”

The Eagles have Josh Sweat joining Reddick in a contract year and Nolan Smith, who drew Reddick comps in the pre-draft process, on a rookie deal. The team waived Derek Barnett last season, ending a seven-year partnership. Reddick, 29, obviously represents a major piece for the NFC power. He did not make his contract an issue going into last season, though McLane adds a belief exists he staged a hold-in of sorts while dealing with a minor groin injury early in camp. It would be understandable if he changed course regarding his contract now. Being set to turn 30 in September, Reddick is running out of time to cash in on the value he has displayed as an edge player.

At $15MM per year, Reddick is tied as the NFL’s 16th-highest-paid edge rusher. Once the likes of Danielle Hunter, Bryce Huff and Jonathan Greenard come off the board in free agency, Reddick’s financial standing will likely drop. Those players’ eventual deals will undoubtedly factor into Reddick’s extension drive.

I don’t know how that will play out,” Nick Sirianni said, via McLane, regarding Reddick’s situation. “Haason’s been awesome for us these last two years. Big reason why we’ve been to the playoffs the last two years is the contributions of Haason. He’s played really, really outstanding football. We’ll see how that plays out, and hopefully he’s an Eagle.

While the Eagles have some intriguing personnel who could conceivably replace Reddick, a coach closer to the hot seat will likely support retaining him. It will be interesting to see what is offered, should this process reach that stage, as the Eagles attempt to regroup after a disastrous finish to their NFC title defense. Darius Slay returned on an extension after being in trade and release rumors last year, while Barnett also returned to the fold after being given permission to seek a trade previously. Will the Reddick process conclude the same way?

Haason Reddick Did Not Request Trade, Eyeing Eagles Extension

Haason Reddick‘s Eagles future seemed to be in doubt when it was learned over the weekend the Eagles gave him permission to seek out a trade. Further clarity on the matter has since emerged, and an extended stay in Philadelphia has not been ruled out.

Reddick made it clear when speaking to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz that he never submitted a trade request. More to the point, the two-time Pro Bowler added that his desire is to remain with the Eagles on a new deal. One year remains on Reddick’s current pact.

“This is home for me,” Reddick said (via Schultz). “I was born and raised here. Two of the most fun years playing football in my life came here. I’ve cherished being an Eagle.”

As Schultz further details, the Eagles’ move allowing Reddick to find a trade partner was voluntary on the part of the latter’s camp. Coming off two strong seasons in Philadelphia, the former Cardinal and Panther could be in line for a significant raise on an extension. He is owed $15.5MM in 2024, but none of his base salary is guaranteed and his cap hit currently sits at $21.87MM.

The 2017 first-round pick quickly outplayed the three-year, $45MM deal he signed with the Eagles in 2022, becoming a bargain after continuing his breakthrough stretch as a pass rusher. Initially miscast as an off-ball linebacker in Arizona, Reddick has been one of the game’s top sack artists since the Cardinals moved him back outside midway through the 2020 season. Reddick led the way in the 2022 Eagles’ pursuit of the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record, pacing the NFC champions with 16. Reddick added an NFL-high five forced fumbles, making an impact in those playoffs as well by tacking on 3.5 sacks in blowout wins over the Giants and 49ers. The latter of those involved knocking Brock Purdy out of the NFC championship game.

Reddick finished with 11 sacks this past season but did not force any fumbles. As the Eagles’ defense fell apart, Reddick did not record a sack over the team’s final five games. But the Eagles have him on a team-friendly deal. Reddick, 29, sits tied for 17th among edge defender AAV. While Reddick confirmed he did not seek a trade, he stopped short of ensuring he will be an Eagle in 2024, indicating he is “preparing for what’s next.” How Reddick’s trade market looks will paint a clearer picture of his extension price point, adding intrigue to what could be complicated negotiations between the Eagles and the two-time Pro Bowler.

A Reddick trade would obviously impact Philly’s pass rush, though the team did select Nolan Smith — a Georgia prospect who received Reddick comps leading up to last year’s draft — in last year’s first round. The team also has Josh Sweat joining Reddick in going into a contract year. Many questions remain after the Eagles unraveled to close out the season. Reddick joins a number of key contributors on that side of the ball going into an age-30 season or beyond. But the seven-year veteran’s contract will be a key issue for the Eagles to resolve this offseason.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Eagles Grant Haason Reddick Permission To Seek Trade

The Eagles have given edge rusher Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Reddick is owed a $14.25MM salary in 2024, the last year of his current deal.

Reddick, 29, was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2017 draft, and he had an inauspicious start to his career, struggling through several underwhelming years as an off-ball linebacker. When Chandler Jones went down with a season-ending bicep injury in 2020, Reddick convinced Arizona’s coaching staff to let him take Jones’ place as a pass rusher. After all, Reddick had thrived in that role in college, but he was considered too small for it at the professional level. The move paid major dividends, as Reddick racked up 12.5 sacks that season and parlayed his success into a one-year, $6MM deal with the Panthers in 2021.

Reddick compiled 11 sacks in his first and only season in Charlotte, at which point it became clear that his Cardinals breakout was no fluke. That convinced the Eagles to hand him a three-year, $45MM contract in 2022, and he followed up a 16-sack performance that year with another 11-sack effort in 2023. He has made the Pro Bowl in both of his first two seasons in Philadelphia.

As Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com observes, Reddick’s contract has been an “issue” for over a year. After his tremendous 2022 campaign, in which he finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, both player and team knew that Reddick was underpaid relative to his market value. Reddick, however, did not hold out for a new contract, and the Eagles did not explore one either (which is understandable, as he was just one year into a three-year accord). Now, it is clear that Reddick wants to be paid like the elite player he is, and with 11 edge defenders enjoying AAVs of at least $20MM, that would seem like the floor in negotiations with Philadelphia or any other club.

Of course, as both Shorr-Parks and Zach Berman of PHLY observe, allowing Reddick to shop himself does not necessarily mean that his time with the Eagles is up. Ultimately, Philadelphia simply may not like any trade offers enough to deal a top player at a premium position, but if the Eagles do decide to retain Reddick, Berman believes GM Howie Roseman will authorize a new contract rather than let a disgruntled player finish out his below-market deal. Berman adds that Roseman’s decision will be influenced, at least to some degree, by the presence of Josh Sweat, who is also entering a platform year.

In addition to his production over the past four seasons, Reddick has also proven to be highly durable, having missed one game in seven professional seasons (h/t Berman). Although he will be 30 in September, it would not be surprising to see other teams pony up significant trade compensation along with a contract that would position Reddick among his highest-paid peers.

Notable 2024 Pro Bowl Incentives

The NFL released the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters last night. While the annual All-Star event has lost some of its luster (and is eyeing a significant revamping in 2024), a Pro Bowl selection is still a significant accomplishment for many players…especially from a financial standpoint.

There were a number of Pro Bowlers whose selections were tied to contract incentives. We’ve collected some of the notable Pro Bowl incentives below:

Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick didn’t have a traditional Pro Bowl incentive, but his selection will still result in more money. Per Corry, Reddick’s 2024 base salary will increase by $500K (from $13.75MM to $14.25MM) thanks to the Pro Bowl selection.

A handful of former first-round picks also boosted the value of their fifth-year options by earning their first Pro Bowl nod (via Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus): Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Ravens offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum, Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell, and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain boosted the value of their fifth-round option to the maximum amount with a second Pro Bowl selection.

Beyond incentives, players also get some cash for just participating in the Pro Bowl event. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports writes, players on the winning team will earn $88K, while players on the losing team will get $44K. This even applies to Pro Bowl players who can’t participate since they’re playing in the Super Bowl.

Haason Reddick To Undergo Thumb Surgery

Haason Reddick suffered a thumb injury recently, and the setback will require surgery. The Eagles pass rusher will undergo surgery in an effort to be ready by Week 1, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The standout linebacker suffered the injury during the Eagles’ Monday practice, and it does not appear he will be practicing again for the foreseeable future. The Eagles will prioritize Reddick’s regular-season availability. Reddick, who has enjoyed a breakthrough stretch upon being moved back to an edge role, did not miss a game during his Eagles debut season.

Reddick led the Eagles’ push for the single-season sack record last season, tallying a career-high 16. He has now recorded double-digit sacks in three straight seasons — for three different teams. After the Cardinals tried the Temple product as an off-ball linebacker early in his career, Reddick was reborn as a pass rusher following a Chandler Jones injury in 2020. The Panthers then gave him a one-year deal, and he registered 11 sacks in 2021. The former first-rounder parlayed that into a three-year, $45MM Eagles contract — one that already looks team-friendly after the season Reddick produced.

The Eagles fell two sacks shy of the 1984 Bears’ sack record, finishing with 70. That still led the league by a considerable margin, and Reddick tied for the league lead with five forced fumbles as well. The ex-Cardinals draftee helped secure the Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII berth as well, adding 3.5 playoff sacks.

While it sounds like the seventh-year veteran is expected back by Week 1, as The Athletic’s Zach Berman indicates (via Twitter), this does form an early hurdle for the ascending sack artist and the defending NFC champions’ pass rush.

If Reddick were to miss early-season time, the Eagles would obviously be impacted. But the team remains deep on the edge. Josh Sweat is signed long term, and the Eagles reupped Brandon Graham in March. While Robert Quinn is no longer on the roster, the Eagles still have Derek Barnett — who was lost with an ACL tear in Week 1 of last season — and drafted Nolan Smith in the first round. Smith received Reddick comps coming into the draft. Reddick’s thumb malady should give the Georgia product more opportunities ahead of his rookie year.

NFC West Rumors: 49ers, Akers, Reddick, Ward

The 49ers capitalized at the trade deadline Tuesday, acquiring a fifth-round pick in exchange for running back Jeff Wilson. When the offer came in from Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, it was an easy decision for 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to make, as they had already agreed on the lowest possible compensation they would take for Wilson, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports.

Wilson was strategically available in this fashion due to the 49ers’ recent acquisition of former Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey“You can only keep so many, just from a roster approach,” Lynch told the media. “We knew when we made the Christian move, someone was going to have to go, and, ultimately, Jeff’s the one.”

San Francisco will move forward with McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell (currently on injured reserve), rookie third-round pick Tyrion Davis-Price, and undrafted rookie Jordan Mason. In Miami, Wilson will reunite with backfield-mate Raheem Mostert and head coach Mike McDaniel. He’ll also compete for snaps with Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin.

Here are a few more rumors from around the NFC West, starting with some insight in LA:

  • After lots of talk around trading running back Cam Akers, the Rams retained the 23-year-old back, allowing him to return to the team. Akers has insisted on multiple occasions that “he didn’t know why he was asked to leave the team,” according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. He spoke in the locker room and told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that “at no point did he ask the Rams for a trade or release.” Regardless, he reported that a conversation he had with head coach Sean McVay yesterday was good for both parties and that Akers and his teammates are glad to have him back around the team.
  • After three average years in the Cardinals‘ defense, linebacker Haason Reddick made a request that would save his career, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. Underachieving as an inside linebacker led Arizona to decline the former first-round pick’s fifth-year option. In an act of desperation, Reddick suggested to his coaches that he revert back to the pass rushing position he excelled at in college, taking advantage of the team’s star pass rusher, Chandler Jones, going to IR. He had been considered too small to succeed at the NFL level as a pass rusher, but the circumstances left Arizona with little choice. Reddick would finish the year with 12.5 sacks, leading to the resurgence of his young career.
  • It took a while for 49ers veteran defensive back Jimmie Ward to find success in the NFL. For three years, San Francisco tried to force Ward into a nickelback role before eventually settling him into success at free safety. Now, at 31-years-old, Ward has been asked to return to a nickel cornerback role, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. After playing only one snap in the first six games of the season due to a hamstring injury and a broken hand, Ward lost his starting job to Tashaun Gipson, who has simply played well in Ward’s absence. Now, with Gipson firmly at free safety and Ward coming back from injury with a club cast, Ward’s role comes at nickel corner. He’s accepted the circumstances and his new role moving forward with the team.

NFC East Notes: Giants, Eagles, Clark

Participation among key Giants receivers was light during this year’s offseason. Sterling Shepard continues to close out his Achilles rehab, while Kadarius Toney missed time because of a new injury. Kenny Golladay was also limited during the team’s spring workouts. This could point to Darius Slayton being retained as an insurance policy of sorts, but the fourth-year wideout does not seem to be a favorite of the new regime, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com offers. Slayton buzz this offseason continues to point to a departure, and Raanan does not have the former fifth-rounder making the team. The Giants shopped the two-time 700-yard receiver ahead of the draft and took Kentucky’s Wan’Dale Robinson in Round 2, further crowding their receiving corps. Due to a proven performance escalator, Slayton’s rookie contract finishes up with a $2.5MM 2022 salary.

Here is the NFC East’s latest:

  • Haason Reddick‘s potential role as an outside linebacker who moves to defensive end on passing downs in a 4-3 scheme reminded of Von Miller‘s in his initial Broncos seasons. But the Eagles may no longer be keen on keeping their highly paid edge rusher in the garage. They are leaning toward more 3-4 sets this season, Tim McManus of ESPN.com notes. This would allow Reddick, who turned his career around after the Cardinals gave him a chance as a pure edge player in 2020, the opportunity to rush on most plays. The former first-round pick has accumulated 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
  • The Eagles have a formidable-looking defensive tackle crew, having drafted Jordan Davis to pair with Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave. Despite Davis’ massive frame, McManus adds the Eagles believe he can be a three-down player. Nose tackles often come off the field on passing downs, making the use of a top-15 pick on one questionable. While Davis might not be ticketed for an immediate three-down role, given the veterans that headline his Philly position group, the Georgia-developed size-speed freak will have that chance as a pro.
  • Cowboys rookie linebacker Damone Clark is not expected to suit up anytime soon. The fifth-round pick underwent spinal fusion surgery in March, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota, and may miss the season. Even if Clarke suits up, Machota adds the Cowboys are not expecting that to happen until late in the season (subscription required). Clark recorded 135 tackles and 5.5 sacks during his final LSU season and will rejoin ex-Tigers teammate Jabril Cox as part of Dallas’ linebacking corps.
  • Although Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson went first and second overall, Giants DC Don Martindale and outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins viewed Kayvon Thibodeaux as this draft’s best edge prospect, Raanan notes. Lofty draft-board proclamations often emerge after teams make their picks, but the Giants did select a player who exited 2021 atop many mock drafts. The team plans on using Thibodeaux as an inside pass rusher as well, Raanan adds. Big Blue has enjoyed success with edge rushers moving inside, but it has been a while since Justin Tuck and Co. thrived in the Big Apple.

Contract Details: Miller, Robinson, Reddick, Mariota, Jensen, Collins, Brown, Norwell

Here are the latest details from contracts recently agreed to across the league, starting with the Bills’ big-ticket deal for a future Hall of Fame edge rusher:

  • Von Miller, LB (Bills): Six years, $120MM. Miller’s deal includes $51.44MM guaranteed. The Bills will keep Miller’s early base salaries low; he is tied to $1.1MM (2022) and $1.3MM (’23) salaries, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Miller has a $13.34MM roster bonus due in 2023, and Albert Breer of SI.com tweets his deal includes $50MM over the first two years. His $17.1MM, $19.6MM and $29.6MM salaries from 2025-27 are nonguaranteed.
  • Allen Robinson, WR (Rams): Three years, $46.5MM. Robinson is attached to guaranteed base salaries of $1.5MM and $10MM in 2022 and ’23, respectively, per Wilson (on Twitter). The contract includes a $5.75MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2024 league year. If Robinson surpasses 2,200 receiving yards in the regular season and playoffs during the 2022 or ’23 seasons, Wilson adds his 2024 year will void (Twitter link). Only Cooper Kupp has accomplished that feat in a season.
  • Haason Reddick, DE (Eagles): Three years, $45MM. Reddick, who is guaranteed $30MM, is tethered to base salaries of just $1MM and $1.1MM in 2022 and 2023, per Wilson (on Twitter). His $13.75MM 2024 salary is nonguaranteed. The Eagles tacked three void years onto the deal for cap purposes. Reddick will collect a $13.7MM roster bonus in 2023.
  • Ryan Jensen, C (Buccaneers): Three years, $39MM. Jensen’s deal includes $26.5MM guaranteed. The Bucs center is tied to a $1.5MM base salary in 2022 and a $12.5MM base in 2023, Wilson tweets. Jensen’s 2023 salary is partially guaranteed at signing; it will become fully guaranteed if he is on Tampa Bay’s roster by Day 5 of the 2023 league year. A $1.5MM 2024 roster bonus resides in this deal as well. The Bucs included two void years here for cap purposes.
  • La’el Collins, T (Bengals): Three years, $30MM. The contract is closer to a two-year, $20MM pact, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, with Year 3 being included for cap purposes (Twitter link). It appears Cincinnati has dipped into the void-year realm, though is not clear just yet how this contract is structured.
  • Marcus Mariota, QB (Falcons): Two years, $18.75MM. This deal veers closer to a one-year pact. Mariota is due $6.75MM in 2022, but NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes (on Twitter) a $12MM 2023 option is included in this contract. A key point for Mariota’s Atlanta future will arrive on Day 5 of the 2023 league year, when a $3MM roster bonus is due.
  • Trent Brown, T (Patriots): Two years, $13MM. Brown will see $4MM guaranteed, Pelissero tweets. The veteran right tackle can earn up to $22MM on the contract.
  • Andrew Norwell, G (Commanders): Two years, $10MM. Norwell will collect $5.7MM guaranteed, Wilson tweets. He is set to earn $1.2MM and $3.54MM in base salary, with Wilson adding Washington added three void years onto this deal.

Eagles To Sign Haason Reddick

One of the top pass rushers in this year’s free agent class has reportedly found his new home. The Eagles are signing Haason Reddick to a three-year, $45MM deal (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network). He adds that $30MM is guaranteed, and that the deal can reach of maximum value of $49.5MM.

The 27-year-old started his career in Arizona, but was primarily used as a middle linebacker for much of his time there. A 12.5 sack campaign in 2020 showed, however, that he could be used effectively as more of a pure pass rusher. That earned him a ‘prove-it‘ deal in Carolina, where he reunited with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule. Now he will head to back to Pennsylvania.

In 2021, the former first rounder replicated his success from the previous year. He posted 11 sacks and 18 QB hits, as well as two forced fumbles. That production led to the expectation he would price himself out of Carolina, while the team focused on other free agents. It was reported last week that he Reddick would be seeking a deal averaging up to $17MM per season. At $15MM, this contract comes up just short of that figure, but still represents a sizeable pay raise from what he has earned to date in his career.

Reddick represents one of what is expected to be multiple moves the Eagles make to bolster their pass rush. After the team ranked 31st in the league in sacks, they could very well add another free agent, or use at least one of their three first round picks on further edge rushing help.