Haason Reddick is back, which means the New York Jets are saved and will most likely win their final 10 games.
Joking aside, Reddick has the potential to be a significant addition for an underperforming Jets defense that currently ranks 21st in DVOA. As a player who racked up 50.5 sacks and 255 total pressures over the previous four seasons, Reddick can add a second consistent pass-rush presence to a team that only has one player who ranks either top-50 in sacks or top-40 in pressures (Will McDonald).
The Jets’ pass rush ceiling rises to exciting levels with Reddick on the field. If Reddick performs anywhere close to his usual standards, McDonald stays hot, and Quinnen Williams starts trending back to form, the Jets could have themselves a fantastic big-three when it comes to getting after the quarterback.
But what about the arguable No. 1 problem with the Jets run defense? Will Reddick do anything to help in that area? That is the dark cloud hanging over his return.
The Jets’ pass rush is not the problem in question. While the Jets’ pass rush can certainly stand to improve, their pass defense and pass rush are doing just fine. The Jets currently have the NFL’s fifth-best pass defense based on EPA (Expected Points Added) per dropback. They are also third-best in sack rate (9.2%) and sixth-best in pressure rate (39.5%). While the individual production of the Jets’ pass rushers is unimpressive outside of McDonald, the Jets have done a great job of generating pass-rush production by committee.
The real problem with the Jets defense – and the main reason why they are a measly 21st in defensive DVOA – is their run defense.
The Jets are ranked 16th in rushing yards per game allowed, but Jets fans know the eye test paints a much worse picture. This is corroborated by the Jets’ team run defense grade of 47.9 at Pro Football Focus, which ranks 29th ahead of only the Panthers, Saints, and Cowboys.
Will Reddick help the Jets’ run defense? It’s fair to question whether he will make even the slightest impact in this area.
One thing must be made clear: If the Jets get the Reddick of old, then he will improve the team’s run defense. Reddick has generally been considered an average run defender in his career, which is a significant upgrade over the league-worst run defense New York has gotten from its edge rushers.
The Jets’ edge rushers have combined for a PFF run defense grade of 43.5 this season, the worst of any EDGE unit in the league. Compare that to Reddick’s 63.7 grade in 2023, and his average grade of 63.6 across the previous four seasons. For perspective, a 63.6 run defense grade would currently rank 48th out of 92 qualified edge defenders in 2024. It’s nothing special, but it’s far more competent than what the Jets have gotten.
Here’s the caveat, though. After witnessing all of the drama that played out over the past six-plus months, we all know what Reddick’s eyes are fixated on: the almighty dollar. And what must he do to collect more of them? Rack up sacks.
Reddick can earn up to $5.3 million this season through performance-based incentives. This includes $2.05 million based on his sack total, according to CBS Sports. Reddick will earn $500,000 for reaching eight sacks, an additional $500,000 for reaching nine and 10 sacks, and $550,000 for reaching 12 sacks.
On top of that, Reddick is showcasing himself to prospective teams who will consider signing him on the 2025 free agent market. He needs gaudy stats to maximize his value on the open market, and no stat boosts a defensive lineman’s market value more than sacks.
We now know that Reddick is as money-focused as any player in football. We also know that he has significant sack-based incentives and the motivation to boost his value on the 2025 free agent market. With all of this in mind, it seems clear that Reddick is going to be extremely focused on collecting as many sacks as possible over the next 10 games.
That could be a great thing for the Jets’ pass rush, but it is highly concerning for their run defense. With so much motivation to get sacks, will Reddick care at all about handling his responsibilities against the run?
It is easy to picture Reddick flying off the edge with reckless abandon in pursuit of sacks on every play, sacrificing his gap integrity in the process. If he does this consistently, opposing teams will target him in the run game, breezing by him with ease as he carelessly flies into the backfield instead of taking on blocks and holding his ground.
Surely, the Jets’ coaches have talked to Reddick about this. They know as well as anyone who they’re dealing with. It would be shocking if they have not emphasized to him that he must be vigilant as a run defender if he wants to stay on the field. I do not believe I am revealing a concern that New York’s coaches are unaware of.
But do the coaches actually have any leverage over Reddick?
The Jets’ season is in dire straits. They need all the help they can get, and Reddick is one of the most talented players on the team. He is capable of making the game-changing plays that this defense has struggled to make. Not to mention, the Jets gave up a third-round pick and played months of hardball just to get him on the field for these 10 games. For all of these reasons, it would be shocking if the Jets benched this player.
On top of that, it’s not as if the Jets have a better alternative to Reddick in the run game. All of their edge rushers have been abysmal against the run. If they bench Reddick, they would be actively making the team worse just to prove a point. Is that something the Jets can afford after starting 2-5 in a win-now season?
Reddick knows the Jets are unlikely to reduce his snap count no matter what he does on the field. With dough being the only thing on his mind, what is his incentive to not chase sacks every play?
Reddick has already been accused of “chasing sacks” in the past. After he was traded to the Jets, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that some Eagles players suspected Reddick was chasing sacks to earn a larger contract.
“I think there were some concerns about him chasing sacks,” McLane said on 97.5 The Fanatic. “I don’t know that is what specifically Fletcher Cox was referencing, but l heard from people in the organization that Haason was one of the guys they thought was doing that.”
An uber-talented pass rusher with all the motivation in the world to take down the quarterback, Reddick has a great chance of providing the Jets with tremendous pass-rush production over the next 10 games. However, it is certainly fair to wonder if that production might come at the cost of brutal run defense.
Would that be a worthwhile trade-off for the Jets? Arguably, yes. The Jets already have the worst group of run-stopping edge defenders in football, so Reddick cannot be any worse. If adding Reddick means the run defense stays even while the pass rush improves, that’s a win.
Reddick’s run defense is something to keep an eye on this Sunday. He has shown in the past that he is capable of being an average run defender, which would be a major boost for this team. In his current predicament, though, one cannot help but wonder whether he will give the slightest care about his responsibilities in that phase.
