Philadelphia's Hasson Reddick Denies Trade Story; What Does Eagles Star Want?

Philadelphia's Hasson Reddick Denies Trade Story; What Does Eagles Star Want?

First came the story that a standout player wanted a trade. It's a heck of a story, too ...

But is it true?

The plot thickened a bit on Tuesday when Philadelphia Eagles' edge-rushing star Haason Reddick took to social media to explain that any trade talk isn't coming from his side.

Never asked for a trade. However, I do understand it’s a business. Preparing for whatever is next! https://t.co/KwNaAUl7HO

— Haason 7 Reddick (blue check) (@Haason7Reddick) February 13, 2024

"Never asked for a trade," Reddick wrote on X.com. "However, I do understand it's a business. Preparing for whatever is next!"

A league source confirmed to SI.com's Eagles Today on Super Bowl Sunday that the organization gave Reddick and his camp permission to seek a trade.

Speaking to Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz, Reddick added even more context to the issue. 

“I would like to get an extension done here at home. At no point did I ever tell the organization I want to be traded,” Reddick told Schultz. "... This is home for me. 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 disconnect is the potential extension. Reddick signed a three-year, $45 million deal before the 2022 season and has been a bargain for the Eagles after the Temple product has amassed 30.5 sacks over 38 games when you include the playoffs.

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The top of the edge-rushing market begins with San Francisco star Nick Bosa, who has a deal with a $35M average annual value and while he's an outlier, the other edge-rushing difference makers are well anywhere from $20M to $25M.

As one of only two NFL players who have reached double-digits in sacks over the previous four seasons, Reddick and his camp at CAA would surely like to be in the $25M range on an extension and that's a number the Eagles don't want to go near with Reddick set to turn 30 in September.

Allowing Reddick to request a trade is a negotiating ploy by Eagles' GM Howie Roseman to clearly define the market for Reddick and better reach a compromise. 

If another team is willing to go well past $20M a season for Reddick and offer Philadelphia, significant draft compensation -- think a second-round draft pick and perhaps a Day 3  chaser pick -- the Eagles would call that a win-win situation and likely decide to move on.

Reddick's cap figure for the 2024 season is a team-high $21.877 million on the final year of his existing deal so there is urgency from each side to get a restructure or extension if there is no trade. 

The Eagles' other starting edge player, Josh Sweat, is also in the final year of his contract and a potential extension candidate while Roseman was clearly in a forward-thinking mode last spring when he drafted pass rusher Nolan Smith with the 30th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

With or without Haason Reddick, the Eagles need more from Nolan Smith :: Ed Kracz/Eagles Today

Smith, however, had a lukewarm rookie season and needs to get stronger and prove a troublesome shoulder isn't going to be a chronic issue before the Eagles can count on him.

With a new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, arriving for next season and the Eagles needing to address multiple personnel needs on that side of the ball, it's conceivable the organization simply wants to go cheaper on the edge to make the puzzle pieces fit better.

Among the pass rushers set to become unrestricted free agents in March is Andrew Van Ginkel, who is a little bit younger than Reddick, would come much cheaper, and excelled in Miami with Fangio last season.

Other younger options with upside that could figure in the $15M range are the New York Jets' Bryce Huff, Houston's Jonathan Greenard, or perhaps San Francisco's Chase Young on a prove-it deal.

What's clear is that Reddick's first choice remains staying in Philadelphia but his previous stops in Arizona and Carolina have prepared the 2017 first-round pick for any eventual outcome.