Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7) celebrates after a sack against the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The New York Jets will be getting Haason Reddick back after an offseason and several more months loaded with drama.
Reddick was the lone holdout remaining in the NFL. Early Sunday morning, the Jets and Reddick reached a reworked contract, and he will report to the team on Monday.
Reddick was dropped by his longtime agent and representatives at CAA last week after an entire offseason of not cooperating with the Jets. Dating back to when Robert Saleh was still the head coach, the Jets had both expected and implored Reddick to report to practice, and he just never did despite being fined every single day.
Upon hiring Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent just a few days ago, the 30-year-old pass rusher finally agreed to report to the Jets after being one of the biggest headaches in the NFL this season.
“Our goal is to continue to work towards a long-term extension with the Jets,” Rosenhaus told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport explains that Jets owner Woody Johnson was very involved in getting Reddick’s newfound buy-in. Just a few days ago, Johnson had given Reddick and Rosenhaus permission to seek a trade. According to reports, a trade away from the Jets was never close to happening.
This saga has gone on since the first day of April, and it’s been no April Fools joke. The Jets agreed to send a conditional draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for one of the best pass rushers in the game. Reddick is in the final season of his three-year, $45 million contract and is seeking an extension. But we know how this game goes.
At first, he did not report to voluntary OTAs. Concerning after a big trade? Sure. But it’s not a requirement for players to show up, and it’s sometimes common to see veterans skip out.
But when training camp started, that’s when the Jets raised up the red flag on Reddick, who was placed on the reserve/did not report list on August 25, the second day of training camp. On August 12, before training camp even started, he requested a trade. General manager Joe Douglas publicly declined that wish.
When Reddick reports to the Jets on Monday, it will be his first time in the building. After pulling every stunt in the book, he’ll return to New York on a reworked contract with hopes to return to the Big Apple on a long-term deal in 2025.
Teams will be reluctant to hand out record-breaking money to a defender on the other half of 30 years old. Despite Reddick’s impressive record of staying healthy and productive, teams just won’t be eager to shell out headline-worthy cash to an aging player.
Despite their 2-4 record going into Sunday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers, give Johnson’s Jets credit. In recent days, they worked out a trade to reunite superstar receiver Davante Adams with Aaron Rodgers in a move that should get the offense clicking.
Now defensively, one of the game’s pass rushers will reluctantly report to help New York make a playoff push in this loaded AFC.
