By Zack Rosenblatt, Larry Holder and Dianna Russini
The Haason Reddick contract issue will now linger even longer as the New York Jets edge rusher will not report to the start of training camp, per league sources. Reddick will be subject to a $50,000 fine for every day he misses camp.
The Jets acquired Reddick, 29, from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. He’s looking for a new contract as he is set to enter the last year of his deal, which carries a $14.25 million salary in 2024.
He originally inked the three-year, $45 million deal with the Eagles in 2022. Reddick is coming off four consecutive 10-sack seasons, including 27 in the last two years in Philadelphia.
After the trade in March, Reddick told reporters as it relates to his contract that “whatever happens, I’m going to be happy. I’m going to give it my all, no matter what.”
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Reddick didn’t attend any of the Jets’ early summer programs, including mandatory minicamp in June. Jets coach Robert Saleh didn’t express major concern during minicamp when asked about Reddick’s absence, saying at the time, “The guy is a great dude. He’s played (at) a high level at multiple places. He’s a pro and seasoned vet. He’s the last guy I’m worried about will be ready to play football.”
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Sorting through the drama
Reddick made it clear when he was still with the Eagles that he wanted a new contract. That fact didn’t change when they allowed him to seek a trade and then when he eventually was dealt to the Jets.
Even still, the Jets traded for him, let Bryce Huff walk in free agency and traded veteran John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos for peanuts. Reddick became a centerpiece of their pass rush plan.
The issue: Reddick did, in fact, still want a new contract. After he was acquired, the Jets were under the impression that Reddick would still report for offseason workouts and minicamp — and they made it clear they did not intend to sign him to an extension right away, though they were amenable at some point to a restructure of his contract.
Then Reddick didn’t show up for any offseason workouts and incurred fines for not showing up for mandatory minicamp. The Jets still were unsure if he planned to show up for training camp when the team broke for the summer but, alas, he did not report Tuesday and will be subject to $50,000 in fines for every day of training camp he skips.
Reddick has a $14.25 million salary and $15 million cap hit in the final year off his deal, which ranks 19th among edge rushers — even though Reddick has been one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers over the last four years (50.5 sacks) and finished fourth in league’s defensive player of the year voting two years ago with the Eagles.
The most likely outcome here is that, at some point — ideally sooner than later — the Jets agree to some sort of restructure, guaranteeing his salary and/or adding incentives so he can earn more money in 2024.
Of course, Reddick would have to be agreeable to that sort of compromise. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat writer
Jets’ pass rush outlook
Let’s take a look at the AFC’s pass rush landscape to find out how each team stacks up heading into the 2024 season. I dove into the last season’s numbers, via TruMedia and Pro Football Focus, to examine which teams are potentially in the best or worst shape.
Here’s a glimpse at the stats within this study:
- Pressure percentage
- Sacks
- Total pressures
- Hits
- “Splash plays” per snap (splash plays: sacks, tackles for loss, pressures leading to throwaways, run and pass stuffs, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, passes defended/batted, stops on third and fourth down)
In the charts below, the blue shading is positive and the red shading is negative. Players had to tally at least 200 pass rush snaps last season to qualify for the rankings.
| Team | PFF Prsr% | Sacks | PFF Prsrs | PFF Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
40.3 (5) |
48.0 (7) |
243 (14) |
101 (14) |
| player | PFF Prsr% | Sack | PFF Prsrs | Snap/Splash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16.1 (19) |
5.5 (69) |
70 (14) |
22.1 (46) |
|
|
13.3 (45) |
7.5 (46) |
56 (35) |
19.0 (29) |
|
|
12.7 (53) |
11.0 (15) |
67 (18) |
28.3 (89) |
|
|
10.3 (95) |
3.5 (108) |
31 (104) |
43.1 (152) |
|
|
8.0 (141) |
5.0 (78) |
17 (156) |
38.8 (142) |
There’s no doubt the Jets need Reddick to remain the prolific pass rusher that we’ve watched the last few years with the Cardinals, Panthers and Eagles — especially with Huff off to Philadelphia. Reddick has four consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks. Will contract acrimony get on the way of a fifth?
At least New York should feel comfortable with its young core of Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson, the latter of whom found Pro Bowl status after becoming a full-time player in Year 2. After losing Franklin-Myers, the Jets are banking on former 49ers first-rounder Javon Kinlaw to maintain his upward career arc. Kinlaw played every game last year after suiting up for only 10 total regular-season games the previous two years. — Larry Holder, NFL senior writer
GO DEEPER
How do AFC pass rush groups stack up heading into the 2024 season?
Required reading
(Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
