New York Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick is the last holdout remaining in the 2024 season, and his agent has had enough of his frustrated client. Following an 11-sack season with the Philadelphia Eagles, the two-time Pro Bowler held out for a new contract. Philadelphia didn’t want to spend up and sent him to the Jets, who believed he’d play under his current deal. That didn’t happen, as Reddick skipped offseason workouts, preseason, and the first five games of the regular season. With no end to the holdout in sight, his agents decided to part ways with the embattled pass rusher and let him fight for a new contract on his own.
Sources: CAA is parting ways with #Jets passer rusher Haason Reddick, who is the NFL’s last holdout. Reddick has not shown up at the facility, has collected millions in fines and his situation currently has no end in sight. pic.twitter.com/896CwRMXJL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 10, 2024
You rarely see this happen in the NFL, as Haason Reddick is now looking for a new contract and a new agent. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the agency had been “trying to broker a deal,” but Reddick seemingly refuses to make any concessions. With the New York Jets themselves looking lost at 2-3, they might be one or two losses away from deciding Reddick isn’t worth the headache and trading him to a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or Carolina Panthers.
Haason Reddick Abandoned by Agent, Could Get Traded to Chiefs, Panthers
The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0, but that doesn’t mean they have a perfect roster. While the defense is one of the better units in the league, the team could use another pass rusher. Defensive tackle Chris Jones remains his elite self, recording three sacks, 11 tackles, seven quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and a 90.2 PFF grade through five games. However, an elite pass rush needs more than one dominant player, and the Chiefs could land another dangerous threat if they trade for Haason Reddick.
Former first-round pick George Karlaftis is a fine complementary starter, but he’s not a superstar. Mike Danna, meanwhile, is better off as a depth piece, and 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t done anything to shake the ‘bust’ label. Haason Reddick would easily be the most talented edge defender on this team, but can the Chiefs afford a trade? Reddick won’t play without a new deal, and Kansas City has just $4.15 million in available cap space. It won’t be easy, but perhaps the Chiefs decide to go all-in as they pursue their third Super Bowl in as many seasons.
Rebuilding A Pass Rush
At first glance, the 1-4 Panthers don’t seem to be a likely Haason Reddick trade destination. However, a deeper dive shows that this could be a perfect fit. Carolina’s defense lacks top-end talent, as free agent signee Jadeveon Clowney has been unable to replace the departed Brian Burns. Even if Clowney was playing up to Burns’ previous level, the Panthers could still use another edge rusher. Reddick is no spring chicken, but he could infuse this team with some much-needed talent on the defensive side of the ball. While they won’t compete this year, they could make some noise in 2025 if they get a pass rush, bring back Andy Dalton, and pair him with a first-round quarterback.
The Panthers also have the perfect player for a Haason Reddick trade: wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The New York Jets want another wide receiver, and while Davante Adams is their top choice, they could pivot to Johnson if they can’t strike a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Aaron Rodgers isn’t the player he used to be, but the present-day version of the veteran would still be the best quarterback Johnson’s ever had.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
