In a surprising move, the Philadelphia Eagles have traded pass rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets, according to league sources. The trade involves the Jets sending the Eagles a conditional 2026 third-round pick, which has the potential to become a second-round pick, in exchange for Reddick. The news was first reported by ESPN.

Reddick, who has spent the past two seasons with the Eagles, emerged as one of their top defensive players. He was named to the Pro Bowl in both years and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022. Notably, Reddick played a key role in helping the Eagles reach a Super Bowl appearance. With double-digit sacks in his past four seasons, including 11 in 2023, Reddick has established himself as a productive and impactful pass rusher.

Jets coach Robert Saleh praised Reddick's abilities, stating that he possesses "all kinds of juice and gas off the edge" and is truly a problem for opposing teams. The Eagles signed Reddick, a hometown player, to a three-year, $45 million deal in 2022, with the 2024 season being the final year of the contract.

The trade comes as a surprise, considering the Jets had 25-year-old Bryce Huff, who recently left the team in free agency to sign with the Eagles. Reddick, with his proven track record and consistent performance over the last four years, is seen as a more complete pass rusher than Huff by the Jets' organization. This led the Jets to invest significant draft capital, including a conditional third-round pick that could become a second-round pick, and allocate a $14.5 million cap hit for the 2024 season in order to secure Reddick as Huff's replacement.

For the Jets, the acquisition of Reddick strengthens their defensive end position significantly. Combined with established starters Jermaine Johnson, John Franklin-Myers, and now Reddick, the Jets have a formidable pass-rushing rotation. The move also allows the Jets to focus on other positions of need in the upcoming NFL Draft, such as wide receiver and the offensive line.

As for the Eagles, the trade enables them to get younger at the edge rusher position while also gaining additional draft capital for the future. General manager Howie Roseman strategically completed the deal, taking advantage of the deadline he set by moving Reddick's roster bonus. The Eagles will now rely on Bryce Huff, whom they signed to a three-year, $51.1 million deal, to step up and fill the void left by Reddick. Huff, who showcased his skills as a pass-rusher with 10 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in limited snaps in 2023, is expected to assume a larger role alongside Josh Sweat and first-round pick Nolan Smith.

Although the trade involves some risks, with Reddick's proven productivity and impact on the Eagles' defense, the organization believes that Huff has the potential to maintain or even surpass Reddick's level of performance. Coach Nick Sirianni and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have expressed confidence in Huff's abilities, emphasizing his elite pass-rushing skills and his ongoing improvement in stopping the run.

The trade not only reshapes the defensive landscapes for both the Eagles and the Jets but also signifies the strategic decisions made by each organization as they seek to strengthen their respective rosters. Time will tell how the trade ultimately impacts both teams' defensive units and whether the Eagles' investment in Huff will pay off in the long run.