Searching for a pass rusher in the wake of Bryce Huff's departure in free agency, the New York Jets acquired Haason Redick in a trade Friday with the Philadelphia Eagles, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Jets will send a conditional 2026 third-round pick to the Eagles that improves to the 2026 second round if Reddick reaches 67.5% playing time and 10 sacks, sources said. In 2023, Redick recorded 11 sacks and 38 tackles in 17 games. He played 74% of the defensive balls.
Essentially, the Jets and Eagles traded edge rushers. Huff, who led the Jets with 10 sacks last season, signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles on the first day of free agency.
The Jets pursued Shaq Barrett and Jadeveon Clowney in free agency, but they signed with the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
In Riddick, 29, the Jets get a proven commodity. He has 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons, the fourth-highest total in the NFL. Redick and Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett are the only players to record at least 10 sacks in each of the past four seasons.
The downside of the trade is that the Jets inherit a large contract. Redick is scheduled to make $14.25 million in base salary in 2024, the final year of his contract. If they don't re-sign him and he leaves as a free agent next year, the Jets will be in line for a compensatory draft pick in 2026.
Reddick is also scheduled to receive a $1 million bonus on April 1. Presumably, the Jets are on the hook for that unless it is renegotiated. It was originally scheduled for March, but the Eagles and Redick pushed him back to help facilitate the trade.
This is the latest in a series of win-now moves by the Jets, who want to take advantage of Aaron Rodgers' window. They gained tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, both 33, and also added wide receiver Mike Williams, 29, who is coming off ACL surgery.
The Jets are loaded at defensive end, where Redick joins rookies Jermaine Johnson, John Franklin-Myers and 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald. They also have backup Michael Clemons.
“The more players, the merrier,” coach Robert Saleh said this week at owners meetings in Orlando, Florida.
Typically, the Jets like to rotate four, sometimes five defensive ends in a game. Redick's arrival could impact McDonald, who is expected to have a bigger role after a nondescript rookie year. It could also impact Franklin Myers, who carries a $16.4 million cap hit. They can approach him about a pay cut.
What's concerning for Redick is that he regressed at the end of last season, ending five straight games without sacks (including one in the playoffs). The Eagles changed defensive coordinators during the season, which seemed to impact Redick's role and usage.
“All kinds of juice and gas off the rim. He's definitely a problem,” Saleh said of Redick before facing the Eagles last season. “… He's definitely found a new lease of life on that front. He's dynamic. He's versatile. They can do a lot of different things with him, but he's a three-way rusher. He can win inside. He can win outside. . . . He can run through you.” “
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