The New York Jets’ contract dispute with Haason Reddick escalated on Monday when the Pro Bowl edge rusher formally requested a trade. The Jets quickly responded with a firm statement, asserting they intend to keep him on the team.
General Manager Joe Douglas declared, “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. 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 dissatisfaction with his contract has resulted in a holdout that has lasted 21 days, leading to mandatory fines of $50,000 per day, which total approximately $1.7 million when accounting for bonuses missed due to his absence.
This situation is particularly unusual because Reddick was traded to the Jets just four months ago and has not participated in any practices with the team. His only visit to the facility was for his physical and introductory press conference on April 1.
The Jets acquired Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles in late March, sending a conditional third-round draft pick in 2026 in return. Initially, the Jets believed he would play under his existing contract, but complications arose when Reddick did not participate in the offseason workouts, including mandatory minicamp.
According to sources, the Jets are not willing to negotiate a new contract until Reddick reports to camp, while Reddick insists he will not show up unless his contract is renegotiated. This marks his second trade request in recent months.
At 29 years old, Reddick is set to earn a non-guaranteed base salary of $14.25 million in the final year of the three-year, $45 million deal he signed with the Eagles in 2022. He believes he has outperformed this contract and seeks compensation that aligns with the top edge rushers in the league, a situation that had led to his trade from the Eagles.
For perspective, Danielle Hunter of the Houston Texans, who has achieved the same number of sacks (27) as Reddick over the past two seasons, recently signed a two-year contract worth $49 million, which Reddick might be eyeing.
Over the last four seasons, Reddick has recorded a total of 50.5 sacks, ranking fourth in the league during that period.
The Jets, who recently lost their leading sack producer, Bryce Huff, to the Eagles in free agency, traded for Reddick to bolster their defense. The specifics of Reddick’s contract negotiations at the time of the trade are unclear, but sources indicate that the offer fell short of what he is seeking in terms of guarantees.
Following the trade, the Jets mentioned to Reddick that they would consider revisiting his contract later in the season, a change in plans that surprised the team when he did not participate in any voluntary workouts.
There has been no comment from Reddick or his representatives regarding the current situation.
Reddick has now joined the ranks of other players who requested trades under General Manager Douglas, including safety Jamal Adams and wide receivers Denzel Mims and Elijah Moore, all of whom were eventually traded.
As a result of his holdout, Reddick has incurred $1.05 million in mandatory fines and approximately $300,000 in discretionary fines. His absence from the mandatory minicamp in the spring cost him an additional $100,000, along with a forfeited workout bonus of $250,000.
The Jets have significant plans for Reddick, who will turn 30 on September 20, as he is expected to start at defensive end, taking over for John Franklin-Myers, who was traded to the Denver Broncos. Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald have been sharing snaps during training camp.