The Jets-Haason Reddick partnership has certainly featured a rocky start. The recent trade acquisition has not shown for the team’s offseason program, and after Robert Saleh said he expected the veteran edge rusher at minicamp, Tuesday brought an unexcused absence from the mandatory workouts.
It is not surprising to see Reddick test his new team, seeing as his below-market contract led to the separation from the Eagles.
Reddick, who will turn 30 in September, is in the final season of a three-year, $45M contract. After what is believed to have been a productive spring visit before the trade came to pass, the parties do not appear on the same page regarding this issue. A previous Jets-Reddick meeting, however, suggested they were.
The Jets had communicated to the sack artist they would not extend him this year, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes, with the sides believed to be in agreement Reddick would play out his deal and see about receiving his money from the Jets — or another team — in 2025. Reddick was believed to be on board with the plan, per Hughes, who notes the former Super Bowl starter had told Jets staffers he would attend both OTAs and minicamp. It appears the parties are no longer in lockstep on a plan.
While the Jets communicated to Reddick adjustments could be made to his current contract — potentially via incentives — Hughes adds they indicated no extension was coming this year. This is an interesting stance for the team, which gave up a third-round pick for the Pro Bowler, as it has two rookie-contract edge players (Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald) and traded its other veteran piece (John Franklin-Myers) in an April salary dump.
It is understandable why Reddick would opt to force the issue. His contract is out of step with his production, which now includes four straight double-digit sack seasons. His dominant 2022 showing (19.5 total sacks, 3.5 coming in the playoffs) helped the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII and had them on the cusp of breaking the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record. Reddick did not fare quite as well last season, but he still totaled 11 sacks. He has also seen his contract — already a below-market deal upon signing — further shift toward a team-friendly classification. Offseason extensions for Brian Burns and Josh Allen have bumped Reddick down to the NFL’s 19th-highest-paid edge defender.
Reddick is subject to a $104K fine by skipping minicamp, and he forfeited a $250K workout bonus as well. The eighth-year vet could force the issue by continuing his holdout into training camp, but teams must fine non-rookie-contract players $50K per day for each training camp workout missed. That has largely removed holdouts from the equation, though Chris Jones and Zack Martin both succeeded — Martin via an immediate agreement, Jones via a monster 2024 payday — after holding out. A Reddick hold-in effort could be the next step here.
The Jets effectively swapped out Bryce Huff for Reddick, with the younger player now with the Eagles on a three-year, $51.1M deal to place the four-year Jet among the handful of edge rushers now paid more than Reddick.
It would look odd if the Jets turned around and paid Reddick a market-value contract, seeing as Huff is four years younger. Though, the Jets are planning a three-down role for Reddick after having used Huff as a designated pass rusher. Reddick may well attempt to use the Jets’ plan against them. Training camp represents the next stage of this developing saga.
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