Moving Forward

Entering draft month, the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense looks a lot different following the trade of All-Pro edge rusher Haason Reddick.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher discussed the team impact of the Reddick trade. 

GETTY IMAGES: 2023 first round pick Nolan Smith will likely have a bigger role with the Eagles in ’24

Haason Reddick

Adam Caplan: “Whatever leverage Reddick thought he had, once they signed (Bryce) Huff it was going to be hard. Let’s say for argument’s sake they kept him; You were going to pay Reddick $14.25 million plus the per-game roster bonuses plus his roster bonus which would come to $17 million. You weren’t going to do that. It’s cash justification and then playing time justification.”

Geoff Mosher: “A move like this is made by a general manager who has confidence that his owner trusts him to make the move. This is not a popular move and you can argue you are not getting the right value in return…This is an extremely good edge rusher that you are getting a third round pick two years from now.”

Nolan Smith

Mosher: “You just don’t know the type of jump a player can make from year one to year two…I have watched this kid practice, I think he is an incredibly hard worker and has a relentless motor. That usually, along with the traits, translates.” 

Zack Baun

Caplan: “Somebody really vouched for him. We do know he is going to line up at multiple positions. He has been mostly a special teams player, but the tape is good enough and they gave him $3.5 million.”

Draft

Mosher: “I would be stunned if at least three or four of the first five picks were not on the defensive side. They have to rebuild this defense. They are pretty good offensively and if they do take an offensive player, it will probably be a lineman.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.