The Haason Reddick Era is over in New York before it ever began, as the pass rusher requested a trade before playing a single snap with his new team. After an 11-sack season where he earned the second Pro Bowl appearance of his career, Reddick wanted an extension as he entered the final year of his contract. That didn’t happen, as the Eagles decided to trade him to the Jets for a conditional 2026 third-round pick. At the time, Reddick said he’d play for New York even without an extension, but he had a change of heart. Now, the pass rusher is looking for a new deal and a new home for the second time in the same offseason.
Haason Reddick hurt his trade value with this request, as New York will struggle to find any team willing to give up a conditional third-round pick for a player who, in all likelihood, will not practice without a new contract. However, his off-field drama could distract from his on-field production, making Reddick an ideal target for a team looking to bolster their pass rush without giving up much draft capital. The Jets say they won’t trade him, but they might not have a choice but to give in. New York won’t want to send him to an AFC contender, which makes the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints two of the most likely destinations.
Jets sent a conditional 2026 third-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for Haason Reddick, who showed up for his physical and press conference, and spoke highly about the organization and opportunity. But then there was no new deal, and now there is a trade request. https://t.co/L3XJMnhEGD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 12, 2024
Haason Reddick Demands Trade – Could Panthers, Saints Come In?
The 2024 Carolina Panthers should be better than their 2023 counterparts, but there’s still work to be done on this roster. Even though they spent the offseason surrounding Bryce Young with pass-catching talent and improved blocking, this team will still need to win games on defense. Jaycee Horn is a good cornerback when healthy and Jadeveon Clowney is coming off a great season, but they could use a player with legitimate star upside, and they could get one with a Haason Reddick trade.
You can build a decent offense around Bryce Young, Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson, and first-round pick Xavier Legette. However, this core isn’t good enough to win every game in a shootout. Haason Reddick won’t singlehandedly turn this defense into the 2013 Seattle Seahawks, but the trade candidate would give Carolina their best pass rush in years. Brian Burns might be gone, but a pairing of Clowney and Reddick should lead to more sacks than ever.
Dennis Allen Needs Wins
The New Orleans Saints keep mortgaging the future for a team that hasn’t reached the playoffs since the Drew Brees days. If Dennis Allen cannot deliver a postseason berth in 2024, then the head coach will probably be out of a job in January of 2025. Unfortunately for Allen, the Saints roster looks worse now than it did at this point last year. The offensive line is in shambles, there’s no depth at receiver, and the defense could use another pass rusher.
Cameron Jordan had the worst season of his career last year, and free agent signee Chase Young is anything but a safe bet. Perhaps both players bounce back in 2024, but these two have a low floor. Assuming they can make the money work, a Haason Reddick trade would ensure the Saints have at least one reliable pass rusher on any given down. If all three players reach their ceilings, then New Orleans could have the best pass rush in football.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
