The New York Jets are holding a two-day mandatory minicamp this week and two notable players are absent. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed Tuesday's activities, along with newly acquired edge rusher Haason Reddick. Both are unexcused absences, per Jets head coach Robert Saleh, which subjects Rodgers and Reddick to fines.
While Rodgers communicated to the team that he had an event to attend, Reddick did not make his intentions clear. Saleh said he spoke to Reddick last weekend and the 29-year-old is in a good spot mentally and physically. He previously indicated that he expected Reddick to be present this week, per Connor Hughes.
The Jets acquired Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles via trade in March but the two-time Pro Bowler has not attended any team workouts since. He is in the final year of his contract and is expected to hold out for an extension. This could be the official start of that holdout.
Reddick is among the best pass-rushers in the NFL and expects to be compensated as such. He recorded over 50 sacks and 83 QB hits across the last four seasons, missing only one game in that span. He and Myles Garrett are the only players with double-digit sacks in each of the last four seasons.
Despite his absence, Saleh isn’t concerned about Reddick missing training camp or being ready for the season.
“The guy is a great dude. He's played at a high level at multiple places. He's a pro and seasoned vet. He's the last guy I'm worried about will be ready to play football,” Saleh said, per Zack Rosenblatt.
His best season came in 2022 with the Eagles as Reddick posted 16 sacks and forced a lead-leading five fumbles. He was a second-team All-Pro selection and finished fourth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Reddick was not as effective in 2023 but still managed 11 sacks and 23 QB hits. He earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl honor and feels he did enough to warrant a new contract.
What is the Jets' plan for Haason Reddick?
The Jets knew the potential of Reddick holding out when they traded for him. New York took a chance on a proven defensive player and didn’t give up much to acquire him, handing Philly a conditional third-round pick in 2026.
Now that the holdout is a reality, the Jets have some decisions to make. Will they stand firm on their negotiations, if any have begun yet, and force Reddick to make the next move before training camp? When does the holdout start to become a problem? These are questions the Jets should already have answers to.
General manager Joe Douglas hasn’t been in the business of extending aging veterans so the move for Reddick is a surprising one. It's even more surprising considering it appears there's been little communication between Reddick and the Jets in the two months following the trade.
The worst-case scenario for the Jets is Reddick sitting out the entire season, meaning New York coughed up a valuable draft pick for nothing. The likelihood of that happening is slim, but is a frustrated Reddick something the Jets need in the locker room if he does return without a new contract?
There is no faulting Reddick for wanting more money based on his performance over the last two years. He's hardly the first player to hold out for a new contract in the final year of his deal. The Jets could become an even bigger laughingstock if they don’t figure out this situation though.
Maybe converting some of his $14.25 million base salary to guaranteed money would entice Haason Reddick to play out the final year of his contract. Regardless, the Jets need to find a way to at least get Reddick involved before the season, even if that means a new contract doesn’t come to fruition.
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