As his training camp holdout continues, Haason Reddick has clearly not made progress on contract talks with the Jets. The Pro Bowl edge rusher has requested a trade, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports.
Reddick was acquired via trade from the Eagles earlier this offseason with the expectation an extension can be worked out. That has not come to fruition, though, and the 29-year-old has remained absent from his recent team while seeing a resolution. Progress on a short-term fix – via incentives being added to the one 12 months remaining on Reddick’s existing pact – was reportedly being made in late July, but today’s news definitely suggests otherwise.
As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports confirms, no contract talks have taken place between the Jets and the previous first-rounder to this point. Latest York will not be prepared to barter with a player who has – contrary to the team’s expectations – not attended any workouts since being acquired. As a veteran, Reddick has gathered mandatory day by day fines by holding out. That endeavor has cost him over $1.8MM to this point, and the Jets could also go after a portion of his signing bonus. Within the event a trade were to be worked out, though, those financial matters would develop into a moot point from the team’s perspective.
After all, the Jets can be hard-pressed to seek out a suitor for Reddick given his status as a pending free agent. Latest York sent Philadelphia a conditional third-round pick to amass him after it became clear the Eagles wouldn’t make the long-term commitment Reddick was in search of on a brand new deal. The Jets reportedly made an extension offer before the trade was finalized, but a short-term arrangement (via a restructure) represented the more logical approach from Latest York’s perspective. Each avenues have did not bring Reddick into the team’s facility, resulting in a brand new phase on this saga.
The Temple product is due $15MM this season (not making an allowance for the fines he has racked up) as a pending free agent. Reddick has posted a minimum of 11 sacks in each of the past 4 seasons, so he could command a lucrative deal on the open market next spring. Concerns over his age can be a think about free agency, though, not to say the drama which has ensued over his Eagles exit and delayed Jets arrival (if one does find yourself happening).
Given the draft capital included within the trade and the assurances received that Reddick can be in attendance for mandatory minicamp and/or training camp, it might come as a surprise if the Jets sought out a trade partner. In the event that they did, nonetheless, a market could exist – a minimum of on a rental basis – given his production with the Cardinals, Panthers and Eagles. Reddick would presumably handle a starting role on any recent team, as he is anticipated to with Latest York (a team which lost Bryce Huff in free agency). It is going to be interesting to see how the Jets proceed knowing he now wants one other move. As expected, general manager Joe Douglas has confirmed in a press release Reddick’s request is not going to be met.
With the regular season approaching, a resolution of some kind will should be made relatively soon on this case. Reddick would forfeit game checks on a weekly basis if he continued to take a seat out while a member of the Jets. His holdout lasting all the season would result in his contract tolling, making it an especially unlikely consequence. As progress on contract talks stays an element to look at closely, though, the prospect of a trade is now a component to be considered. How this plays out can be a key storyline for the Jets within the build-up to a highly anticipated 2024 campaign.
