The Philadelphia Eagles announced they are signing linebacker Haason Reddick to a three-year deal worth $45 million. This is a homecoming for the Camden, NJ native. He should improve the Eagles defense going into 2022. How does this affect the Eagles offseason strategy?
Who is Haason Reddick?
Hasson Reddick was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey. He is a former walk-on at Temple University. Reddick played for the Owls from 2012-2016 which coincided with the Matt Rhule era. This was a period of success for the program and for Haason Reddick. He mostly played defensive end but transitioned to linebacker for the NFL Draft.
Reddick’s NFL Career
Reddick was selected 13th overall in 2017 by the Arizona Cardinals. He became the Cardinals’ outside linebacker and situational pass rusher from the defensive end position. Reddick’s best year in Arizona was 2020. That year he had 12.5 sacks and 43 tackles. His fifth-year option was declined, so he became a free agent in 2021.
Last year the Carolina Panthers brought in Reddick for a one-year deal. This reunited him with coach Matt Rhule. Reddick became the full-time starter and had a productive season. He had 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 37 tackles. Since the 2020 season, Reddick has the fifth most sacks in the NFL.
Who Is Reddick Replacing?
A couple of notable Eagles players are likely leaving. One of them is Derek Barnett. He was drafted just one spot behind Reddick in 2017. Barnett had an up-and-down career. He made some big plays but was not consistent. Reddick should be an upgrade when used as a pass rusher.
Alex Singleton appears to be on the way out too. He had the most tackles for the Eagles the last two years but struggled in certain situations. Reddick might spend time at the linebacker position, but the Eagles also have Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley. Expect the Eagles to draft a linebacker in next month’s NFL draft.
In Conclusion
Haason Reddick is a big signing for the Eagles. He will be a big improvement for the Eagles pass rush that ranked second to last in sacks last season. The inability to get to the quarterback exposed the Eagles secondary. Minus Darius Slay, Eagles cornerbacks and safeties had no answers for opposing offenses. This meant the Eagles were having to play from behind and abandon their offensive game-plan. A more effective pass rush should allow the defense to perform better.
Bringing in Reddick allows the Eagles to look at other weaknesses this off-season. The Eagles got a pretty good deal on Reddick, so they should have money to spend on other free agents. Adding a wide receiver or corner should be a priority. The Eagles also have three top-20 picks. This would allow the Eagles to be flexible and build a competitive team.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Haason Reddick are a perfect match. Reddick gets to come back home and play in Lincoln Financial Field again. The Eagles get a quality pass rusher that they desperately need. It should be fun to watch him play in Philadelphia the next few years.
