Ex-New York Jets, Eagles Defensive End Compares Bryce Huff, Haason Reddick

Former New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas spoke about the Haason Reddick trade and the upgrade Bryce Huff may offer his new team.

Oct 15, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas’ most recent splash has set New Jersey ablaze.

In trading for Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick, debates have sprung up. South Jersey’s Philly fans have pointed and laughed at what they feel is yet another Howie Roseman heist, and the New York faithful are defending what they’ll hope will be a deep playoff run.

In all, the trade sent Reddick to the Jets for a conditional 2026 third-round pick that can improve to a second-round selection based on playing time and sacks.

Oct 15, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

On Sports Radio WIP, former Eagles and Jets defensive end Hugh Douglas spoke about the trade, and why Philadelphia may come away as the victors.

“I know that 10 sacks is one of those things that people look at and be like that production is not going to be duplicated, anything like that,” Douglas said. “I’m gonna tell you like this man, in a small sample size, I think Bryce Huff has the potential of being a better pass rusher. And I know people look at me and they’re like, ‘Aw man, you’re crazy …’ Go look at his rushes compared to Haason Reddick’s rushes.”

Douglas logged 80 sacks in his 10-year NFL career, 54.5 of which came with the Eagles. Reddick, too, has looked his best in Philadelphia, logging 16 and 11 sacks in his two years there, respectively.

Huff, meanwhile, has largely been a part-time player due to his ineffectiveness against the run. Even so, that shouldn’t take away from his prolific pass-rushing prowess. On a per-snap basis last season, few were better at hunting down quarterbacks. Among qualified pass rushers, only Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons posted better pass-rush win rates.

“And the reason why I feel that way is because he’s more of a physical rusher,” Douglas said. “He has to me more of an ability to strike fear in the heart of a tackle and beat a tackle in a one-on-one situation than Haason Reddick. Now, Haason Reddick is fast, there’s no question about that. And he beats a lot of people off the corner, but the physicality that Bryce plays with, I really like, and I think that’s what’s missing in this game today.”

Whether Reddick can eliminate the drop-off in productivity with better play against the run could go far in deciding how this trade ages. Reddick is one of the game’s better pass rushers but Huff was special on passing downs, even if he was intentionally kept off the field against the run.

There’s merit to the argument that the Eagles got better by acquiring a dangerous pass rusher who will be 26 this upcoming season, compared to 30. That doesn’t necessarily write off the Jets’ end as a fumble.

Reddick is a legitimate threat who filled a whole former first-round pick Will McDonald was going to have to fill. For a team entrenched in a win-now window, 2026 can wait. If Reddick outproduces Huff during the Aaron Rodgers era, New York won’t have any complaints.