Report: Eagles seeking to unload top 2023 edge-rushers in offseason trades
The Eagles could be active in the trade market this offseason.
On Saturday, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that Philadelphia edge-rusher Josh Sweat is on the trade block, nearly a month after the front office reportedly granted Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade.
Reddick later confirmed he "never asked for a trade" while noting on social media, "I do understand it's a business. Preparing for whatever is next."
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, hired earlier this offseason, runs a 3-4 scheme, a change from the 4-3 alignment the team had in head coach Nick Sirianni's first three seasons. That, along with the team's struggles last season, made a defensive overhaul inevitable.
The Eagles defense fell from one of the league's best units in 2022 to one of the worst in 2023. During the team's run to Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia ranked second in total defense, including first against the pass. Philly defenders combined for 70 sacks, tied for the third-most in a single season in league history.
Last season, the Eagles had the 26th-ranked defense, including the second-worst pass defense. The pass rush also declined, only recording 43 sacks, which tied for 19th.
However, Reddick and Sweat were the team's most productive edge-rushers, both starting all 17 games and combining for 17.5 sacks. Reddick had 11, his fourth consecutive double-digit sack season, while Sweat's 6.5 sacks were his lowest since 2020.
Each ranked in the top 20 of ESPN's pass-rush win-rate rankings for the 2023 season, with Reddick finishing the year No. 7 and Sweat 14th.
Both are free agents after the 2024 season, which will likely limit what the Eagles can expect to receive in return in trades.
For example, at last year's trade deadline, three edge-rushers on the final year of their contracts, Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Leonard Williams, were all moved for less than a first-round pick.
The Commanders received a third-rounder from the 49ers for Young and a second from the Bears for Sweat, while the Giants netted a 2024 second and a 2025 fifth from the Seahawks for Williams.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Philadelphia is expected to have interest in Jets free-agent edge-rusher Bryce Huff. The Eagles also have 2023 first-rounder Nolan Smith, who they need to see more from after only recording nine total pressures while playing 16 percent of the team's defensive snaps in Year 1.
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