Does Haason Reddick Trade Force Philadelphia Eagles Pick in NFL Draft? Playing Percentages

The Philadelphia Eagles' trade of Haason Reddick suddenly vaults the need for a pass rusher up the draft board.

PHILADELPHIA - A pass rusher could vault to the top of the Eagles’ draft board with Haason Reddick traded to the New York Jets at the start of Easter weekend.

It could be viewed as a need this season but most definitely in 2025 when the only pass rushers under contract at that time would be Bryce Huff and Nolan Smith. So, the Eagles could find somebody early and let him grow into a starting role and grabbing one in the first round, either with a trade up or by staying put at No. 22 overall when this first round begins on April 25 in Detroit.

Two names to watch at that spot are UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Penn State’s Chop Robinson. Either player could come in and get some playing time but also be developed for a big second year in 2025.

Both are scheduled to be among the top-30 visits the Eagles and other teams are allowed to have during the pre-draft process.

Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland is projected to be go in the second round and maybe he is on the Eagles radar. Like Latu and Robinson, Kneeland is also scheduled for a top-30 visit.

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7).

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Remember, that four of the Eagles' first five picks last year visited with Philadelphia during the top-30 process.

There are several positions Philly could go for in the first round.

Here’s my breakdown of the Eagles’ first-round positional targets by percentages and why:

Defensive end, 30 percent: The Eagles love the trenches. The last time they went for a defensive end in the first round was 2017 when they selected Derek Barnett 14th overall. There is a fine line between defensive tackles and defensive end, and Jalen Carter could be in line for snaps at D-end with Vic Fangio in charge.

Still, a true defensive end could in line for the Eagles’ top pick.

Offensive tackle, 25 percent: This is a deep class of tackles, and the Eagles could elect to find one who can play guard initially then step in at tackle when the day comes that Lane Johnson retires. Someone to watch here is Alabama’s J.C. Latham, who is 6-6, 342 pounds.

Cornerback, 25 percent: It’s a position that is popular in just about every national and local mock draft and tough to separate from an OT. For what it’s worth, this position and tackle would’ve led the way had Reddick not been traded and a deal worked out that would’ve kept the pass rusher around for a few seasons.

Still, my contention for several weeks now has been that the Eagles have several young players they like and aren’t ready to give up on James Bradberry despite a disastrous 2023 season.

That they haven’t drafted a cornerback since 2002 when they selected Lito Sheppard plays into my thinking on this.

Like OT, this position has several top-end cornerbacks and perhaps someone like Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell or Alabama’s Terrion Arnold in a trade up could happen, or even sitting tight and perhaps picking Clemson’s Nate Wiggins happens.

My sense is it doesn’t.

Receiver/tight end, 10 percent: The Eagles could use a tight end to back up Dallas Goedert unless Albert Okwuegbunam proves to be a better fit with Kellen Moore running the offense now. Even then, maybe the Eagles surprise everyone – and we know that's happened before a few times – and select Georgia’s Brock Bowers if he’s still hanging around (which he probably won’t be) or trade down and pick up Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders. Goedert was the product of trading down and out of the first round in 2018, so…

They could take another WR since A.J. Brown’s salary cap charge is about to soar through the roof next year and DeVonta Smith still has not been given an extension. The Eagles will surely pick up Smith’s option year to keep him around through 2025 at a big number, though something will likely get done before it comes to that.

There should be plenty of good options in the second round should the Eagles choose to go in that direction.

Interior offensive line, 5 percent:  There just isn’t value in taking a guard/center such as Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, West Virginia’s Zach Frazier, or Duke’s Graham Barton. Connor Bebee, who is scheduled for a top-30 visit, would be an intriguing pick if the Eagles trade backward.

Defensive tackle 5 percent: I just don’t see the Eagles taking a player at a position where they spent their previous two first-round picks in Carter and Jordan Davis, though it’s not being completely ruled out since Fletcher Cox retired. If Texas’ Byron Murphy is somehow still on the board, he might prove too tempting to pass up.