The New York Jets traded for Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick on March 29, but he has yet to participate in a practice or game as a member of the team -- an unusual holdout. The stalemate intensified Aug. 12, when Reddick requested a trade and was flatly denied by the Jets. He skipped the offseason, training camp and the first regular-season game, which cost him a $791,000 game check. All told, he has accumulated more than $5 million in fines and lost money.
The Jets say Reddick, whom they acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles, told them he'd play under his existing contract after rejecting their initial offer on an extension. That's why they felt comfortable making the trade even though his demands for a new contract were widely known -- the primary reason why the Eagles shipped him off for a 2026 conditional third-round pick.
But how will this play out as we enter Week 2 of the season? Could the Jets' hand be forced? We asked four NFL analysts to craft realistic trade offers for Reddick, then had Jets reporter Rich Cimini evaluate each one and pick the best deal, based on what he thinks the Jets' front office could do over the next few weeks. Before we get into the offers -- which involve five different teams -- Cimini explains the latest on Reddick's situation.
Here's how our simulated market played out, starting with the pros and cons of each potential deal and ending with a verdict.
Jump to a trade offer:
Cardinals | Chiefs/Raiders
Bengals | Bears
The latest on a potential Reddick trade
Reddick, entering the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract, wants an extension commensurate with the NFL's top edge rushers. Currently, his yearly average ranks 20th among edge players. But this dispute goes beyond money. It centers on whether he was promised an extension at the time of the trade. Neither Reddick nor his camp have commented, but they evidently feel wronged by the Jets. He appears to be entrenched in his position. At the same time, the Jets say they won't negotiate until he reports to the team.
"Look, we're always going to want our own in the building," coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday. "It is what it is, but whenever the deal gets done, it gets done."
In response to Reddick's trade request, the Jets shouted their position from the rooftops, releasing a statement saying there would be no trade. Publicly, they insist they still want Reddick, who turns 30 on Sept. 22, to play for them. Saleh, maintaining a conciliatory tone, said they would "love him up" when he reports to the team.
They could use him, that's for sure. The once-vaunted defensive line played poorly in their season-opening loss to the 49ers, as the Jets surrendered 180 rushing yards and posted Week 1's third-worst pass rush win rate (25%).
Still, it's hard to envision Reddick in a Jets uniform. It's not like he has any loyalty to the franchise. He has stepped foot in their facility only once -- on April 1, the day of his introductory news conference, when he was all smiles.
It would take a major shift in position for general manager Joe Douglas to trade him, but it would be easier to justify if a trade brings back a player who could help this season. A future draft pick does little for the Jets considering they're in win-now mode. If Douglas decides to make Reddick available, the challenge would be finding a team willing to take his non-guaranteed $14.25 million in base salary.
Douglas, who might not survive a disappointing season, is in a tricky spot. He would have egg on his face if he trades Reddick for less than he gave the Eagles in March. Reddick is a productive player -- 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons -- but his contract demands and multiple trade requests (two since February) could be a turnoff to prospective suitors. -- Cimini
Four hypothetical trade offers for Reddick
Arizona Cardinals
Ben Solak's offer:
Jets get: S Budda Baker
Cardinals get: Reddick
Why this deal makes sense for both sides: Would Reddick return to Arizona, the team that drafted him and nearly torpedoed his career? The Cardinals' general manager and coach are somewhat new to town, but they're also familiar with Reddick. The edge rusher had his best season in 2022, when Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon was the Eagles' defensive coordinator. Plus, the Cardinals are starved for pass-rush help following the injury to BJ Ojulari. Also important? They have a ton of money with which to pay Reddick.
It's tough to get Reddick out of New York, though. Douglas is fighting for his job, and it's hard to see a successful season for New York if it stocks up on picks instead of players. So the Cardinals would have to send Baker, who is in the final year of his deal and requested a trade in the 2023 offseason before getting a pay bump. I know the Jets love Tony Adams internally, but Baker would be a significant upgrade, providing the immediate value Douglas and Saleh need.
Kansas City Chiefs/Las Vegas Raiders
Seth Walder's offer:
Jets get: WR Davante Adams
Chiefs get: Reddick, Las Vegas' 2025 sixth-round pick
Raiders get: DE George Karlaftis, WR Allen Lazard, Kansas City's 2025 fifth-round pick, New York's 2025 second-round pick
Why this deal makes sense for all sides: Instead of cutting their losses on a problematic situation with Reddick, the Jets should use him to push even more chips into the middle with a rare three-team trade. The Jets still need a pass rusher, but they also need more receiving help. Adams would convert New York's offense from being threatening to dangerous, and the draft pick compensation is lightly mitigated by getting out of Lazard's $10 million fully guaranteed salary.
Kansas City is trying to three-peat and could upgrade from Karlaftis -- who had 10.5 sacks a year ago but has never come close to even an average pass rush win rate -- to Reddick, a bona fide disruptor, through just a pick swap and some added money. The trade would be contingent on a new contract for Reddick (Kansas City isn't making the same mistake the Jets did), but at this point, the Chiefs would be saving him from a situation he doesn't want to be in, so his leverage is minimal. As such, his salary or incentive increase would likely be manageable ... maybe he gets franchise tag protection. The Chiefs could also convert Jawaan Taylor's guaranteed salary into a signing bonus to make it work cap-wise.
This is probably the most the Raiders would get for Adams, too, who has been subject of trade speculation for nearly a year. It was reported that the Jets tried to pursue the veteran wide receiver at last season's deadline and wanted to continue that pursuit into the offseason. The Raiders would get the upside of a former first-round pick in Karlaftis, who comes in at a value cap price and under team control through potentially 2026 (if they pick up the fifth-year option). He can help replace the injured Malcolm Koonce. Plus, the Raiders would also add strong draft pick compensation.
Cincinnati Bengals
Dan Graziano's offer:
Jets get: TE Tanner Hudson, 2025 fourth-round pick
Bengals get: Reddick
Why this deal makes sense for both sides: One of the spots on the roster where the Jets could add some depth is tight end, and the Bengals have Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample playing ahead of Hudson and also drafted two tight ends in the most recent draft. Cincinnati could use more edge rush help alongside Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard after posting the 10th-worst pass rush win rate in 2023 (37.9%). The pick probably evens out the value, and the Bengals have seemingly used some kind of Jedi mind trick to keep players productive when they're unhappy in the final year of their contracts.
Chicago Bears
Jeremy Fowler's offer:
Jets get: 2025 third-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick
Chicago gets: Reddick, 2025 fifth-round pick
Why this deal makes sense for both sides: The Bears have been in the pass-rush market for a while. They were close to trading for Matthew Judon but weren't willing to give him a new contract (whereas Atlanta, which pulled off the trade, seems willing to engage in contract talks later in the season). Reddick's desire for a new deal could give Chicago pause, but if his holdout lingers to the trade deadline, his only choice would be to play the remainder of his deal on a new team.
Teams won't be eager to give the Jets the same trade value New York gave Philadelphia in the April deal (conditional third-round pick that can turn into a second-rounder). This proposal is more than generous, considering Reddick has depressed his own value. The Bears don't have a fourth-round pick in 2025, so a package of third- and sixth-round picks would suffice. The Jets could also ask for a playmaker such as receiver Velus Jones Jr. as a sweetener.
The verdict: Reddick to the Chiefs?
Walder's offer -- a three-team trade with the Chiefs and Raiders -- makes the most sense for the Jets (though both of the other teams would have to be on board, not just the Chiefs, who would be getting Reddick here). It would bring back something tangible in Adams, which helps the Jets' chances this season and allows Douglas to save face. Fowler's offer is also intriguing because they'd be getting more for Reddick than what it cost them in the first place, but like I said earlier: It's not about future draft picks, it's about now.
Let's be clear, though. The Jets would be giving up a lot in Walder's proposal -- Reddick, a 2025 second-round pick and Lazard. But look at it this way: They'd be unloading a headache and clearing $24.25 million in salary between Reddick and Lazard. Granted, a big chunk of that savings would be absorbed by Adams ($17 million), but it would be an upgrade at wide receiver. And yes, Aaron Rodgers would love a reunion with Adams. His happiness matters. -- Cimini