Jets fill major need, acquire two-time Pro Bowler in blockbuster trade with Eagles

The uncertainty surrounding Haason Reddick‘s future has come to an end. The Pro Bowl edge-rusher is being traded from the Eagles to the Jets, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

With respect to compensation, Schefter notes New York will send Philadelphia a conditional 2026 third-round pick. The selection will become a second-rounder if Reddick plays at least 67.5% of defensive snaps this season and records at least 10 sacks.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes New York will take on $14.5M of Reddick’s compensation. The Eagles, meanwhile, could also be off the hook for a $1M roster bonus that was due to be paid out earlier this month but was delayed to April 1. 2024 marks the final year of the 29-year-old’s deal, but Garafolo’s colleague Ian Rapoport reports he is expected to land a new contract in the wake of this trade.

Reddick has drawn attention this offseason with it being known the Eagles were willing to move on from him. While he made it clear he did not request a trade, signs pointed to another lucrative Philadelphia agreement not being in the cards. That seemed to be confirmed when the Eagles landed ex-Jet Bryce Huff early in free agency, a move that added a noted sack artist to the mix. The team has also has Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham on the books for 2024, while New York was left in need of an edge addition prior to this trade.

Huff seemed destined to depart the latter team after a strong contract season. The Jets were one of the interested suitors in Jadeveon Clowney, but no deal materialized. Not long after seeing Clowney sign a deal with the Panthers, New York has pivoted to Reddick. Expectations will be high for the team’s edge contingent heading into the 2024 campaign as a result.

Reddick has posted at least 11 sacks in each of the past four seasons, a stretch split between his time in Carolina and Philadelphia. The former Cardinals first-rounder was a Pro Bowler in each of his two Eagles seasons, proving to be a valuable free-agent addition. He is attached to a deal worth $15M per year, but a new agreement will no doubt check in at a figure closer to the top of the market. Reddick’s 27 sacks and 76 pressures during the past two years will help his bargaining position with his new team.

New York’s two most frequently used edge-rushers from last year — Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers — are each on the books for another two years on their respective contracts. The former enjoyed a breakout season last year with 7.5 sacks, while the latter remained a consistent secondary producer in that regard. Adding Reddick to the fold will help offset the loss of Huff and give the team another sack artist to work with.

It will be interesting to see how urgently the Jets pursue a Reddick extension to keep him in the fold for the intermediate term and avoid a potential free agent departure next offseason. Twelve edge-rushers currently average over $20M per year, and Reddick could aim to join that group in New York. At a minimum, the Jets’ front seven will still have a strong rotation next season even with Huff no longer in the picture.