The New York Jets’ contract dispute with Haason Reddick escalated on Monday when the Pro Bowl edge rusher formally requested a trade. In response, the Jets promptly issued a strong statement indicating their unwillingness to accommodate his request.
General manager Joe Douglas stated, “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, dissatisfied with his contract, has missed 21 days of training camp, accruing daily fines of $50,000. Overall, his holdout has resulted in losses totaling approximately $1.7 million, factoring in fines and forfeited bonuses.
This situation is particularly unusual as Reddick was obtained in a trade just four months ago, and he has yet to practice with the team. His only visit to the Jets’ facility was for a physical examination and introductory press conference on April 1.
In March, the Jets traded a conditional third-round pick for Reddick, believing he would play under his current contract. However, complications arose when he missed the offseason activities, including mandatory minicamps.
The Jets have a policy of not negotiating contracts with players who are not present at camp, while Reddick has stated he will not report unless his contract is renegotiated. This marks his second trade request in the past six months.
At 29, Reddick is set to receive 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. He believes he has outperformed his contract and is seeking a salary on par with the league’s top edge rushers. This perception of being undervalued led to the Eagles considering trading him.
For comparison, the Houston Texans’ Danielle Hunter, who has recorded the same number of sacks (27) as Reddick over the past two seasons, recently signed a two-year contract worth $49 million. Reddick appears to be aspiring to a similar deal.
Over the last four seasons, Reddick has notched 50.5 sacks, ranking fourth in the league during that timeframe.
The Jets acquired Reddick to fill the void left by Bryce Huff, who departed for the Eagles in free agency. Despite this significant trade, the Jets did not finalize Reddick’s contract terms at the time of the acquisition. Reports suggest that while the team proposed an extension, it likely did not meet Reddick’s expectations for guaranteed money.
Following his absence from voluntary workouts, the Jets indicated they preferred to reassess his contract later in the season, which surprised them.
Neither Reddick nor his representatives have issued any statements regarding the situation.
Reddick is now the fourth player under Douglas to request a trade, joining safety Jamal Adams, wide receiver Denzel Mims, and wide receiver Elijah Moore, all of whom were eventually traded.
As a result of his holdout, Reddick has incurred $1.05 million in mandatory fines for missing training camp as dictated by the collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, he faces around $300,000 in discretionary fines. His earlier absence from minicamps also cost him a mandatory fine of $100,000, along with a forfeited $250,000 workout bonus.
The Jets have significant plans for Reddick, especially with his 30th birthday approaching on September 20. He is expected to take over as a starting defensive end, following the trade of John Franklin-Myers to the Denver Broncos, while Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald have shared reps in camp.