The contract dispute between the New York Jets and Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick took a dramatic turn on Monday, as Reddick formally requested a trade. In response, the Jets issued a firm statement declaring they had no intention of accommodating his request.
“We have informed Haason that we will not trade him and that he is expected to be with his teammates. He will continue to incur fines per the CBA if he does not report,” general manager Joe Douglas stated. “Since the trade discussions began in March, we have been clear and consistent about our stance. Our focus will remain on the players we have as we prepare for the regular season.”
Reddick, dissatisfied with his contract, has missed 21 days of training camp, resulting in a daily fine of $50,000. Including fines and lost bonus money, his holdout has cost him $1.7 million in total.
This situation is unusual as Reddick was acquired via trade just four months ago and has yet to practice with the Jets. He has only been to the facility once for his physical and introductory press conference.
In March, the Jets traded a 2026 conditional third-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Reddick, under the assumption he would play under his current contract. The issue arose when Reddick missed the entire offseason, including mandatory minicamp. The Jets have stated they won’t negotiate contract terms with a player who isn’t present at camp, and Reddick is refusing to report without a contract upgrade. This is his second trade request in six months.
Reddick, 29, is scheduled to earn $14.25 million in non-guaranteed base pay for the final year of his three-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles. He feels his performance warrants a new contract comparable to top edge rushers, such as Houston Texans’ Danielle Hunter, who signed a two-year, $49 million deal in free agency.
With 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons, Reddick ranks fourth in the league. The Jets acquired him to replace sack leader Bryce Huff, who left for the Eagles. However, the Jets did not finalize Reddick’s contract situation at the time of the trade, though they reportedly offered an extension, which likely did not meet his expectations.
The Jets intended to revisit his contract later in the season or after the season, which surprised them when Reddick did not attend any voluntary workouts.
Reddick’s holdout has led to $1.05 million in mandatory fines for missing 21 days of camp and about $300,000 in discretionary fines. He also forfeited a $250,000 workout bonus by not participating in the offseason.
The Jets have significant plans for Reddick, who is set to start at defensive end, replacing John Franklin-Myers, who was traded to the Denver Broncos. Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald have been sharing time in training camp.
