The league has been careening full throttle towards the regular season, with preseason underway for the past month. On Monday afternoon, a pair of AFC East EDGE rushers signaled their intentions to leave their current locales. Who are the much-celebrated and well-compensated duo, and should the Titans venture a gaze in their direction? The Titans need EDGE depth after failing to secure proper help in the offseason.
Should Tennessee Be Interested In A Pair of AFC East Edges?
The short answer is YES in the largest size and garish font, like a Vegas signboard. According to OverTheCap, Tennessee has the 14th-most cap space, with a shade over $22.3 million for the 2024 season. In 2025, that escalates slightly to $27.5 million before any activity begins. Also, the specter of Arden Key’s looming suspension further complicates the EDGE depth chart. Much of the talent behind Harold Landry and Key is either unproven, inconsistent, or both. The Titans have almost their full complement of 2025 draft selections available, minus a third-round pick to trade negotiations further. Who are the pair of pass rushers who want to get away from their current situations, and how would they fit Tennessee?
Matthew Judon
Judon is subject to a lot of trade interest as multiple teams have inquired about his services. He’s looking for a new deal, as he’s scheduled to make $6.5 million this season. His 2024 salary has no guarantees from an original four-year contract worth up to $56 million. He was a consistent performer throughout his career until last season, when he tore his biceps and played just four games. The Patriots veteran performed spectacularly during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, logging 28 sacks and 53 hits on the quarterback in that period. The trade speculation has been rampant as he was involved in a sideline spat with head coach Jerod Mayo during a recent practice.
Tennessee would benefit immensely from his presence, even if it came with a renegotiated higher price tag. They could even involve the embattled Treylon Burks in any deal, as the Patriots need weapons for their coterie of passers. He has crossed paths with the Titans before as a feared opponent but has no ties with the current staff. He would only help Tennessee as a starter/rotational piece once Key returns from an alleged suspension. The Titans desperately need EDGE depth.
Haas0n Reddick
After an impasse regarding a new contract negotiation with the Jets, Reddick demanded a trade on Monday. It would be unprecedented for the Jets to trade him after trading for him in the same offseason. Interestingly, the Jets essentially swapped an emerging star, EDGE (Bryce Huff, who signed with the Eagles), for an older model in Reddick. He is the younger of the two rushers mentioned in this piece, as he’s entering his age 30 season in 2024. Reddick has been a steady producer with four consecutive double-digit sack campaigns on the ledger. He signed a three-year $45 million contract in 2022 with the Eagles and is scheduled to make $14,250,000 in 2024.
Due to his younger age and more production, he’ll be the more expensive of the duo. The EDGE market has exploded in recent seasons. 2024 is the last season on his current deal, as 2025-2027 are voidable years. Could the Titans ante up with their assets and push back some headaches on the 2025 salary cap for a proven commodity? He can help steady the Titans’ lack of depth by pushing Key into a more rotational role. A role for which Key is better suited. Reddick has ties to the coaching staff as DC Dennard Wilson and Defensive Line Coach Tracy Rocker were with him in Philadelphia.
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