The New York Jets trade featuring edge rusher Haason Reddick became official Monday and the former Philadelphia Eagles star spoke out about the trade in his first Jets press conference.
Reddick was traded to the Eagles for a conditional third-round pick that has the potential to become a second-round pick. Philadelphia permitted Reddick to seek a trade entering his contract year of 2024.
The Eagles’ signing of edge rusher Bryce Huff displayed to Reddick that they didn’t plan on extending him before the season.
New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick says the Philadelphia Eagles were just making a business decision
New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is 29-years-old, played in every single game for the Philadelphia Eagles in the two years he was there. Since coming into the league as the No. 13 overall pick in 2017, Reddick has played less than 16 games in a season.
In an article from NFL.com, Reddick said his age wasn’t a factor in the trade and the Eagles were simply making a business decision.
“I believe I have a lot left in the tank. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. That’s pretty much that,” said Reddick. “I feel like when I don’t have any more left to give, I’ll retire. Until that point, I’m going to continue to try to play my best ball.
“As far as the Eagles go, though, it wasn’t about what (is) left in the tank or anything like that. It’s a business, and sometimes hard decisions have got to be made, even if you don’t like them.”
Reddick has had at least 11 sacks in every year since 2020. The only seasons in which he didn’t have at least 11 sacks were the first three years of his career.
His most productive year came in 2022, which was his first year with the Eagles. He had a career-high 16 sacks along with five forced fumbles, which was just one off of his career high.
New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick foresees a productive future away from the Philadelphia Eagles
Newly Acquired edge rusher Haason Reddick said in an article from NFL.com that the league is not prepared for what he will add to a pass rush that was already seventh-best in the league.
“It’s going to be fun,” the former Philadelphia Eagle said. “I don’t think people are ready for what’s going to happen.”
“The fact that we have a bunch of young dawgs,” Reddick said, “we’re gonna make it all easier for each other. So the attack, the attack, the attack style — I’m all for it. I’m all about constantly putting QBs under duress. With the group that we have, the front that we have, we should be able to do that really often.
“I’m happy to be around a group of guys like this, a talented roster such as this one.”
The Jets lost two pass rushers who accounted for 16 of their 48 sacks in 2023. Bryce Huff went to the Eagles to essentially replace Reddick, and Quinton Jefferson is now a member of the Cleveland Browns.
Reddick is a game-wrecker on the edge and he plays his best when he has other talent with him on the defensive line. With the Eagles, he had the likes of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Montez Sweat to draw attention from opposing offensive lines.
Haason Reddick sack No. 16! #dawg
pic.twitter.com/X2KZumVG9Z— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) January 1, 2023
Haason Reddick with a huge f*****g sack.
pic.twitter.com/Z3Qmra7PNA— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) November 20, 2022
With the Jets, he will have the likes of Jermaine Johnson, Quinnen Williams, Solomon Thomas, John Franklin-Myers and Will McDonald IV to free him up to pin his ears back and make a run at the opposing quarterback.
If Reddick only decides to play for the Jets for a year and leaves following the 2024 season, his expertise and veteran knowledge will still prove useful for the future of the Jets’ pass rush.
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