The New York Jets doled out a lot of money in 2024 between their offseason signings, draft picks and other acquisitions.
General manager Joe Douglas spent around $72.4 million in free agency, per Over the Cap, after adding players like offensive linemen Tyron Smith and John Simpson, quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Mike Williams. The team also had a relatively large draft class which included first-round pick Olu Fashanu and third-round receiver Malachi Corley.
However, one of the Jets' newest players may already be looking for a new deal after he joined the team in a trade. Edge rusher Haason Reddick has yet to show up for voluntary offseason workouts as he enters the final year of the contract he signed with the Eagles two years ago.
The Jets traded for Reddick this offseason to replace Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers, but it's unclear if they did the move with the intention of signing Reddick to a new deal. Reddick will be 30 later this year but is one of the most consistent pass rushers in the NFL with 27.5 sacks in the past two seasons combined. He'll make around $15 million this season, but the market value for his position is a bit higher after deals for veterans like Danielle Hunter this offseason.
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While head coach Robert Saleh didn't sound too concerned with Reddick's absence and didn't comment on his contract, two Jets reporters believe Reddick is looking for a new deal in the realm of $25 to $30 million per year — nearly double what he's owed in 2024.
The Athletic's Zach Rosenblatt wrote that the Eagles were willing to trade Reddick because he wanted a new deal worth $25 million annually. SNY's Connor Hughes, meanwhile, reported Tuesday that Reddick wants closer to the $30 million per year mark but that the Jets don't yet appear interested in extending him.
That's a lot of money for an older edge rusher, but it's on par with other deals for players his age. Hunter signed a two-year deal worth up to $49 million with the Texans this offseason, while Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson wants a new deal despite two years left on his deal worth between $18.6 and $20 million a year. The top edge rushers in the league make between $28 million and $34 million per year, according to Over the Cap.
The Jets will eventually have to extend some in-house players as well like Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and D.J. Reed. It might be tough for the Jets to give Reddick the big contract he desires unless they do a lot of salary cap finagling before the season starts.
