Trades aren’t a rarity in the NFL, but they’re certainly not as common as they are in sports like the NBA or MLB. What’s even more rare is trades involving high-profile players on both sides of the trade. Yet that’s exactly what ESPN’s new NFL analyst Ben Solak has proposed between the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
Surprising no one, the Jets side of the trade involves disgruntled pass rusher Haason Reddick. Reddick wanted a new deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, who were unwilling to give him one and traded him to the New York Jets. The Jets failed to work out a deal with Reddick prior to the trade, and still haven’t, so Reddick sat out all of training camp and the preseason. Now, his holdout has extended into the regular season – with no end in sight.
At this point, it’s likely best for everyone if another trade occurs, and the Cardinals could certainly use the help at the position. They came away from their Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills with just two sacks on the day, and a consistent pass rush is something the team struggled with all season in 2023. But is Reddick the right player to fill that need?
The Cardinals are deeply familiar with Reddick, as he was their first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent the first four years of his career with the team. Arizona declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Reddick, and he left in free agency for the Carolina Panthers for one season before landing with the Eagles.
Reddick had the most productive years of his career with Philadelphia the past two seasons, putting up 27 sacks combined, making two Pro Bowls, and was named second-team All-Pro two seasons ago, so he certainly has a lot to give in terms of production to the Cardinals. The question would be whether or not Reddick would be amenable to going back to Arizona, and if the Cardinals would give Reddick the contract he’s looking for.
But what would the Cardinals send back to the Jets to make the trade happen? Solak has the Cardinals shipping off former All-Pro safety Budda Baker. Baker requested a trade from the Cardinals prior to the 2023 season, so in that respect it makes some amount of sense. However, the Cardinals were willing to pay Baker – which may make a move to Arizona more appealing in Reddick’s eyes, knowing that they’re willing to hand out pay raises – which makes moving Baker now seem unlikely.
Baker would provide the Jets with an immediate upgrade at the position, and the trade would provide the Cardinals with an immediate upgrade at a position they have needed help at for a while. In that respect, it makes sense for both sides. The timing and players involved here, on the other hand, make a trade working out seem unlikely. But stranger things have happened.
