Jets fans on X (formerly Twitter) erupted in joy once the news of the Haason Reddick trade broke.
Talks of Super Bowls, an unstoppable defense, and one of the most formidable pass rushing units in the entire NFL peppered my timeline. After all, Reddick is a recent two-time Pro Bowl selection, and has finished with double digit sacks every year since 2020. He also finished fourth in the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year voting. So, all it took from Joe Douglas and the Jets was a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick (with the possibility of becoming a second-rounder) depending on playing time. Reddick’s demand for a new contract was a well-documented story this offseason and a major reason the Philadelphia Eagles were willing to let him go. The Jets will seemingly have to pay the 29, soon to be 30-year old a hefty contract.
Eagles Jets Swap Pass Rushers
Philadelphia made former New York Jet Bryce Huff the highest paid non-QB undrafted free agent in NFL history when the Memphis product signed in free agency. This move did not receive positive feedback from Jets fans, considering Huff finished with a team-leading 10 sacks and received no compensation for his departure. So, in a sense, the Eagles found their replacement for Reddick, and the Jets found their replacement for Huff.
Bryce Huff (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The Tale of Two Programs
The Philadelphia Eagles are a highly successful NFL franchise. They’ve made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, including two Super Bowl appearances. The New York Jets on the other hand, have not. This can understandably lead to some concern for Jets fans. A draft pick two years in the future might as well be free, and Howie Roseman, the Eagles general manager, is in the business of giving out freebies, especially to struggling organizations. Were the Jets right for adding a veteran pass rusher? Or did they fail to see the 25-years-young talent in Huff, who they only saw as a situational pass rusher? Here are some numbers to consider:
Haason Reddick (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
Reddick: 27 total tackles, 11 sacks, 73% of snaps, 16% double-team rate
Huff: 15 total tackles, 10 sacks, 42% of snaps, 15% double-team rate
Huff’s season could’ve been an outlier, as he had 7.5 sacks total in his previous three seasons with New York. In fact, the difference lies in Reddick’s total tackles, which are indicative of his higher snap count.
Who made the right decision wont be decided today, tomorrow, or the day after. But the competition is between a perennial playoff team and a franchise that hasn’t finished above .500 since 2015.
Reddick in New York
The best news is Reddick is a veteran addition to a stacked defensive line. He’ll likely be the other bookend, paired with Jermaine Johnson II, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season. Additionally, you can’t talk about the Jets’ defensive line without mentioning Quinnen Williams. The defensive tackle and cornerstone of the team played 69% of the snaps on average, with a massive 70% double-team rate. Reddick enters a room where every player deserves attention, and you can’t double-team everybody.
It’s no lie the Temple product will have high expectations as the Jets enter a win-now phase with the return of Aaron Rodgers. Nobody should be surprised at Joe Douglas shelling out deep future draft picks; if the Jets don’t make the playoffs this season, it won’t be his problem anymore.
Follow the author on Twitter @coachthermer, and follow Full Press Jets @FullPressJets. @FullPressNFL for all other NFL news.
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