The New York Jets have acquired another edge defender
The New York Jets clearly took their needs at edge defender seriously, as they traded for Eagles EDGE Haason Reddick. The reported compensation is a 2026 conditional third-round pick.
Trade: Eagles are sending edge-rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets for a conditional 2026 third-round pick that could be a second, sources tell ESPN.
The 2026 pick becomes a 2nd if Reddick has 67.5% playtime this season and has 10 or more sacks. If not, it’s a 2023 third pic.twitter.com/AcjiqZE2L4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 29, 2024
Reddick is entering the final year of his deal and will cost $16 million against the Jets’ cap in 2024. There are conflicting reports about whether the Jets will give Reddick a new deal. Given that the Jets don’t play any of their edge rushers on 67.5% of the snaps, this will undoubtedly be a 2026 third-round pick.
Entering his age-30 season, Reddick has an impressive resume that includes four consecutive seasons with at least 11 sacks. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022-23 and was a second-team All-Pro in 2022, finishing fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Reddick’s profile as an edge rusher is similar to Bryce Huff’s. In many ways, the Jets and Eagles traded places, as the Eagles signed Huff and then traded Reddick to the Jets.
The Jets finally landed a starting-caliber edge rusher after narrowly missing out on Shaquil Barrett and Jadeveon Clowney. Reddick joins a strong edge room highlighted by Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers. 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald’s role is uncertain after Reddick’s acquisition.
With edge rusher checked off the list, the Jets still have needs at backup running back, safety, swing tackle, wide receiver, and interior offensive line. It remains to be seen if Trader Joe Douglas will still be active or will use the draft to fulfill those needs.
NY Jets got better with this trade, with little negative long term impact. The move replaces the sack production of Huff, that some fans were worried about McDonald stepping up to replace in a “win now” window, and gives the Jets needed depth at one of the most valuable position groups in the sport.
In 2023, Huff (481 plays) +Lawson (101 snaps) +Clemons (368) = ~950 plays
The vast majority of those snaps should go to Reddick (and McDonald).
Will McDonald had 183 snaps in 2023 and produced 3.5 sacks. Bumping him up to 300+ snap range makes sense. Edge rushers typically don’t peak until year 3 and that snap distribution should be great for McDonald’s development and impact.
Reddick should get 600+ snaps. He is objectively a better 3 down player today than Bryce Huff, with similarly strong pressure production on passing downs.
Clemons steps into the limited rotation edge guy on run downs. And Clemons playing time only gets bumped higher if guys get nicked up or he himself makes a leap of some sort.
For me, Reddick > Huff in 2024, at similar money – for 2024 only. I also think McDonald is the true longer term answer at edge on a cheap contract, but is not yet ready to be thrust into being the only answer in 2024.
He has to play 67.5% of the snaps AND get 10 sacks or it’s a 3rd round pick, if the makes those marks we will all be VERY HAPPY. Another good move by Joe Douglas.