Catching Up On Haason Reddick as His Agents Drop Him

On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Creative Artists Agency (CAA) no longer represents Reddick.

Reddick was traded to the New York Jets by the Eagles shortly before Easter 2024. In exchange, the Jets sent the Eagles a 2026 third round pick that could become a second round pick if Reddick played at least 67.5% of snaps this season. At the time, it felt like a bag of magic beans.

That changed when Reddick did not show up to training camp. Reddick held out of the entire training camp hoping to get a better contract, while the Jets did not offer him any. That holdout continued into the regular season, where Reddick has not played a single game for the Jets.

It was no secret that Reddick wanted a better contract. With the Eagles, he agreed to a 3 year, $45 million contract in 2022. He has outperformed that over the last two years, and reportedly wanted an extension which included a steep increase to compensate for this past performance. With Reddick looking at the wrong side of 30 years old, the Eagles wanted to move him.

To date, the holdout has cost Reddick more than $9 million, including mandatory fines imposed by the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement to the tune of $5 million. The longer that he holds out, the more the fines will increase. The CBA provides no way for Reddick to recoup the fines.

The Jets have been firm in their stance regarding the Eagles’ former star pass rusher. When Reddick requested a trade in the offseason, the Jets flatly denied the request.

“We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the CBA if he does not report,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said in August. “Since the trade discussions back in March we have been clear, direct and consistent with our position. Our focus will remain on the guys we have here as we prepare for the regular season.”

Last week, it was reported that Reddick turned down a one-year extension that the Jets offered him. Then came the news that Reddick’s agency dropped him.

If Reddick misses much more time, the Jets could toll his contract and extend it to the 2025 season. In general, a contract becomes subject to tolling when a player misses a material period of time, often more than half of the season. Players whose contract tolls do not receive any compensation for the season. The Jets have a late bye week, so Reddick would have to report by the Jets’ Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans in order to avoid any likelihood of tolling.

Jets Chairman Robert Wood Johnson indicated last week that he wants the situation to end amicably and that the Jets are ready to bring him on board.

“I hope that the young man can come to the team, we would like to have Haason here, we welcome him with open arms,” Johnson said. “I will extend that, I haven’t talked to Jeff [Ulbrich, interim head coach], but I think he would feel exactly the same way, so when he gets here he will find a very welcome locker room and he will be able to fit right in, but he has got to get here first, so Haason get in your car, drive down I-95 and come to the New York Jets. We can meet you and give you an escort right in the building and you will fit right in and you are going to love it here and you are going to feel welcome and you are going to accomplish great things with us.”