The New York Jets are in danger of adding yet another punchline to the decades-long joke that they have provided the NFL after Haason Reddick requested a trade on Monday.
Before even putting on any sort of Jets uniform — even a practice one, at that — after being acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in March for a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick, the 29-year-old edge rusher wants out of town as general manager Joe Douglas and team management continue to stand firm on not entertaining talks of a new contract if Reddick does not show up.
Just moments after Reddick’s trade request was made public, Douglas punched right back with his unwavering stance.
“We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the CBA if he does not report,” Douglas’ statement read. “Since the trade discussions back in March, we have been clear, direct, and consistent with our position. Our focus will remain on the guys we have here as we prepare for the regular season.”
Reddick’s desire for a new contract is the main reason why the Eagles traded him to New York in the first place. He is one of the more prominent bargains in the NFL right now, as he is owed $14.5 million next season before becoming a free agent.
Considering his 50.5 sacks over the last four years rank fourth in the NFL behind TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson, that sort of contract is a steal.
Understanding what he could bring to the Jets’ defensive line, Douglas pounced back in March to get Reddick while parting ways with Bryce Huff (who signed with the Eagles) and trading John Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos. The Jets initially offered a contract extension at the time of the trade, but Reddick denied it.
According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets “were willing to rework” the final year of Reddick’s contract if he showed up for offseason programming. Instead, the edge rusher skipped OTAs, minicamp, and is now a no-show at training camp with one week of preseason play already in the books — all while being fined for each day he misses.
Reddick would provide an undeniable boost to a Jets defense that is already projected to be one of the very best units in the NFL, but management is not going to let this sort of uncertainty provide a headache. In fact, they’re doing quite the opposite.
This sort of clarity ensures that the entire football world knows what their intentions are: They are going to continue to fine Reddick every day he does not show up to training camp, they will let him hold out for as long as he likes, they will not trade him, and they will continue to retain his rights until he decides to play for them and prove that he is worthy of a big-time deal in New York.
That is decisiveness that this organization has lacked for decades — actually, for most of its existence.
