In a twist that is nothing short of shocking, shocking! Well, not that shocking… former Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick has demanded a trade from the New York Jets.
When the Eagles traded Reddick to the Jets on April 1, it seemed like a cruel April Fool’s joke for Eagles fans, but the reality was that Reddick was—and is—unhappy about his current contract. Without being able to settle on a new deal, Reddick first demanded out of Philadelphia. Now, having once again failed to agree on a new deal, Reddick is looking to make his way to a third team this offseason.
It was bold of the Jets to make such a deal, sending a conditional third-round pick to the Eagles in the process, considering they apparently had no potential deal in place. Bold, and in this case, unfulfilling.
It is likely that this demand, while legitimate, is also an ultimatum of sorts, meaning that if the Jets meet Reddick’s contractual demands, there is a possible outcome that sees Reddick remain in New York. The issue with this is the reputational implications that caving to Reddick’s demands.
The Jets could potentially undo untold future leverage by concerning in this scenario, although the alternative of honoring Reddick’s trade demands could prove damning as well.
With the start of the regular season just three weeks away, New York has plenty of work to do on the phones if they’re even going to break even in this endeavor. They’re certainly not acting in a position of power in this scenario, so it may be best to resolve this as quickly as possible, even if it means taking back less compensation.
Is a Haason Reddick reunion possible?
The first question in the mind of many across Greater Philadelphia was if a reunion with the Camden, NJ, native was possible. One cannot put anything past Howie Roseman, but it is hard to envision that the Jets would be willing to return Reddick to the Eagles without receiving a complete return on their trade, something Howie would surely be unlikely to agree to.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas has also already commented on Reddick’s trade demand, and it seems far less than likely that the team will be giving in to this demand.
“We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the CBA if he does not report. Since the trade discussions back in March we have been clear, direct and consistent in our position. Our focus remains on the guys we have here as we prepare for the regular season.”
Still, one thing that is certain about the Eagles general manager—who remains infamous around the league—is that he will work the phones in nearly any case, not unlike his Sixers counterpart.
By all accounts, the Philadelphia Eagles still have a need on the defensive edge. It does not appear that the newly acquired rusher Bryce Huff will be close to a full-time player, at least to start the year, and it remains clear that Josh Sweat is most effective in a part-time role as well. Nolan Smith’s first preseason performance of 2024 had encouraging moments, but he is not on the level of Haason Reddick, which is understandable.
One benefit in the Eagles’ corner is the damage to Reddick’s current value, both as it relates to his trade value and the value other teams may be willing to offer in a new contract. Based on the current situation, there is a legitimate chance that Reddick will be forced to enter the open market next season. If teams are understandably worried about Reddick after two trade demands in one offseason, Philadelphia could swoop in, offering a package that is both less than what they initially received and more than what the competition is offering.
There is no timeline yet for when this could potentially be resolved, but it will be an interesting storyline to follow throughout the remainder of the preseason.
