The New York Jets need to find a way to get this done sooner rather than later.
Their best defensive addition of the offseason wants a raise and could potentially miss training camp if the matter isn’t resolved in the near future.
After the Philadelphia Eagles traded decorated veteran Haason Reddick to New York, the 29-year-old edge rusher declined to participate in voluntary organized team activities and also skipped the mandatory minicamp in June.
Pro Football Focus identifies a personnel decision every AFC team should make before training camp, suggesting the Jets extend Reddick’s contract beyond 2024.
“Reddick has been a consistent sack-getter over the past four years, recording more than 50 sacks. In two seasons with the Eagles, he tallied 135 pressures and earned a 75.2 overall PFF grade in 2023. … Reddick is in the prime of his career, and letting him go at the end of the season after trading up a third-round pick for him would be bad business.” – Thomas Valentine
New York likely expects Reddick to start opposite defensive end Jermaine Johnson. The Jets let their 2023 sacks leader leave for free agency when pass rush specialist Bryce Huff landed with the Eagles, creating a void that Reddick must fill.
“He’s just incredibly fast and his production is almost unparalleled as far as the number of sacks and his ability to win at the rim,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said at the start of Phase 3 of OTAs. “He’s going to be another important piece of our defensive line.”
Reddick has averaged no fewer than 11.0 sacks over the past four seasons and was recently selected to the Pro Bowl twice in a row for Philadelphia.
The Jets veterans must report to training camp at Florham Park on July 23.
