How Jets will try to placate Haason Reddick

We heard recently that the Jets are unlikely to cave to Haason Reddick‘s request for an extension. However, that doesn’t mean the front office isn’t willing to work with their new pass-rusher on a contract resolution. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets will try to placate Reddick “by sweetening his current deal.”

Reddick is entering the final season of a three-year, $45M deal he signed with the Eagles back in 2022. As Cimini notes, the Jets assumed their offseason acquisition would be willing to play out his current contract before hitting free agency next offseason. That didn’t end up being the case, as the impending free agent stayed away from OTAs and mandatory minicamp while seeking a new deal.

Reddick is set to earn $15M in 2024, a total that just sneaks him into the top 20 among pass-rusher AAVs. The Jets are currently operating with around $6M in cap space (per OverTheCap.com), so the front office could easily find the cash to boost Reddick up the list of edge-rusher earnings. While the Jets haven’t entirely closed the door on an extension for their new sack artist, it’s worth noting that the team decided to not pay Bryce Huff the approximately $17M average annual value he earned on his three-year pact with the Eagles. Of course, the Jets' decision to opt for Reddick instead of Huff was more about term, but it’s clear the team still has an intended edge-rusher budget for the 2024 campaign.

Fortunately, it sounds like there’s some optimism that the two sides will come to a resolution sooner than later. Coach Robert Saleh recently hinted at a positive conversation with the veteran, and Brian Costello of the New York Post wrote that this situation differs from the bitter Jamal Adams contract stalemate that eventually led to a trade. While the Jets didn’t intend to make a trade for a contract dispute, there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

When Reddick does finally hit the field for the Jets, he’ll quickly lead the team’s pass-rushing corps. The former first-round pick has compiled 50 sacks over the past four seasons, and he’ll guide a unit that also features recent first-rounders like Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald.