This offseason has been an interesting one for the Chicago Bears in terms of player acquisitions. One persistent theme that has held true is their tendency to sign players who were 1st round picks for previous teams. Germain Ifedi from the Seahawks. Artie Burns from the Steelers. It’s apparent they are willing to take calculated risks on talented athletes for cheap.
If they’re willing to continue that trend, then Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic has a name in mind. He wrote a piece recently detailing six hypothetical trades that would make sense. One of them involved the New York Jets trading a 6th round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for linebacker Haason Reddick. The 13th pick in 2017, Reddick was a Senior Bowl star out of Temple who shot up boards thanks to his athletic upside and substantial instinct.
He delivered a strong 2018 with 80 tackles and four sacks, appearing poised to ascend last year. It didn’t happen. Now his future is all but sealed in Arizona.
“Reddick has been ping-ponged between different positions and different schemes since the Cardinals selected him with the 13th pick in 2017. He spent the majority of last season as an off-ball linebacker. But the Cardinals used their first-round pick on Isaiah Simmons and signed De’Vondre Campbell. They still have Jordan Hicks, too.
In other words, barring multiple injuries, Reddick is unlikely to have a role as an off-ball linebacker. The Cardinals instead may try him out as a rotational edge rusher. But Reddick had one sack in 131 pass-rush opportunities last season. The Cardinals declined his fifth-year option and clearly don’t see him as a part of their future. Rather than wasting a year trying to force him into a role in which he’s unlikely to succeed, they can acquire a Day 3 pick for Reddick.”
Chicago Bears have no reason not to give Reddick a look
One of the big reasons Reddick hasn’t developed properly is a lack of continuity. He’s had a different defensive coordinator in every season he’s been a pro. Each change came with scheme shifts and new responsibilities. It is hard to become an effective player without a well-defined role. Now the Cardinals have abandoned the project, refusing to pick up his 5th-year option. He will be a free agent in 2021.
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So why should the Bears pounce on this? The talent and the circumstances. They have two really good inside linebackers already in Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan. However, both men don’t exactly have the cleanest health histories. They each landed on injured reserve last season. One must also not forget that the Bears’ primary backups last season, Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis left in free agency.
Reddick would get a great opportunity to play under a proven coordinator in Chuck Pagano. One who employs an aggressive style that would fit the kid’s strengths. If it goes well, they could end up getting that pick right back via the compensatory formula. Perhaps he might even stick around and become a key piece in the long-term. In a season where depth can mean everything, this is a move worth making.
