There was optimism by the New York Jets that the contract standoff between Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick and the front office would be coming to a close Monday morning.
That wasn’t the case.
Reddick continues to be a holdout from Jets training camp, with Monday’s absence the start of the second week of the former Philadelphia Eagle not attending mandatory practices. Despite the concern many have for Reddick’s absence, one lead NFL reporter feels the contract dispute could still be coming to an end.
Adam Schefter Optimistic About Haason Reddick Deal Despite Holdout
Speaking on the Pat McAfee show Monday afternoon, ESPN’s lead NFL Insider Adam Schefter detailed where Reddick and the Jets currently were in negotiations and how far the two sides are apart.
“They’ve been talking, and it certainly sounds like there’s been some progress,” Schefter explained. “I think I’d be surprised if they didn’t figure out a way to get this one solved sooner rather than later. … This shouldn’t be hard to figure out.”
"The Jets & Haason Reddick have been talking & it certainly sounds like there has been some progress..
I'd be surprised if they didn't get this one solved but he still hasn't reported" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/u0cj8dId8M
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 29, 2024
Jets head coach Robert Saleh somewhat defended Reddick after Monday’s training camp practice by saying, “From a business standpoint, he’s got to do what he has to do, and if this is what he feels is the best choice for him and his family, then that’s what he’s got to do.”
It certainly sounds like a deal is coming, it’s just a matter of when.
Reddick is set to make a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in 2024 after being traded by the Eagles for a conditional third-round pick in 2026. His current salary is just 20th among edge rushers even though he is one of just two players in the NFL to record over 10 sacks in each of the last four seasons.
Should New York and the Pro Bowl edge rusher eventually come to a deal shortly, what would a deal look like?
Let’s dive into that now.
Projecting Reddick’s Potential Contract Extension
When discussing Reddick’s contract situation, and what a new deal can look like, it’s important to add context to these proceedings.
First, Reddick has been disrespected and underpaid since he got to the NFL as a first-round pick in 2017. He was played out of position in Arizona despite having 12.5 sacks in the final year with the team and could only manage a one-year, $6 million with the Carolina Panthers in free agency for the 2021 season.
SEE MORE: Who Are the Highest-Paid Edge Rushers in the NFL in 2024?
After another 11-sack season with the Panthers, Reddick received his payday to the tune of a three-year, $45 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even then, Reddick was considered underpaid for his role — a fact that was enhanced after a 16-sack season in 2022 and a fourth-place finish for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Now, after another season of 10+ sacks, and with a severely undervalued contract, Reddick’s holdout has been many years in the making.
As of now, the highest-paid edge rusher in the league is Nick Bosa at $34 million per year. There is a wide gap between Bosa and the second-highest-paid player Joshua Hines-Allen at $28.25 million.
For Reddick, he has continuously pushed to be a top-five highest-paid edge rusher in football. That alone would put him in the $25-28 million range overall. If that mark is reached, Reddick could be sandwiched in between reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett ($25 million) and the former winner in T.J. Watt ($28 million).
That’s precisely what Reddick has been looking for over the last two seasons according to multiple reports. While there can be some debate about whether the Temple product is worth that kind of money, there’s no denying he’s been among the most effective players in the league over the last four seasons.
Ultimately, a compromise between the Jets and Reddick is the most likely result of the situation. It’s hard to imagine Reddick getting long-term guarantees, but New York paying him as one of the top edge rushers in the game (at least over $20 million) for this season alone can guarantee that he shows up for training camp while getting a player who knows he needs to step up to get another long-term deal.
They may be close to agreeing, but the situation between Reddick and the Jets is certainly not going away anytime soon.