Looking for an edge rusher following Bryce Huff’s departure in free agency, the New York Jets acquired Haason Redick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Sources said the Jets will send the Eagles a conditional 2026 third-round pick that will upgrade to a 2026 second-rounder if Redick reaches 67.5% playing time and 10 sacks. In 2023, Redick recorded 11 sacks and 38 tackles in 17 games. He played 74% of defensive snaps.
Basically, the Jets and Eagles swapped 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 Shake Barrett and Jadeveon Clowney in free agency, but they signed with the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
The Jets are getting a proven commodity in the 29-year-old Redick. 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 two players to record at least 10 sacks in each of the last four seasons.
The downside of the trade is that the Jets are inheriting a big contract. Redick is scheduled to earn $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 selection in 2026. It’s also possible that the Jets offer him a new contract before the upcoming season.
Redick is also due a $1 million roster bonus on April 1. The Eagles are expected to be paid bonuses, a source said. It was originally scheduled to take place in March, but the Eagles and Redick pushed it back to help facilitate the trade.
This is the latest in a series of win-now moves by the Jets, who are trying to capitalize on their Aaron Rodgers window. They acquired tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, both 33, and also added 29-year-old wide receiver Mike Williams, who is coming off ACL surgery.
The Jets are loaded on the defensive end, with Redick joining starters Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers and 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald. They also have backup Michael Clemons.
“The more, the merrier,” coach Robert Saleh said this week at the annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Typically, the Jets like to rotate four, sometimes five, defensive ends a game. Redick’s arrival could have an impact on McDonald, who is expected to have a bigger role after a mediocre rookie year. This could also impact Franklin-Myers, who has a cap charge of $16.4 million. They could approach them about salary cuts.
The concern with Redick is that he finished with five consecutive pointless games (including one in the playoffs) at the end of last season. The Eagles changed defensive coordinators during the season, which affected Redick’s role and usage.
“Every bit of juice and gas is on the sidelines. He’s definitely a problem,” Saleh said of Redick before facing the Eagles last season. “…He’s definitely got a new 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 runner. He can win inside. He can win on the outside. He can go right through you.”
