New York Jets outside linebacker Haason Reddick may get his wish to be traded after all.
With the Jets now permitting Reddick to seek a trade after his lengthy holdout, it now looks like the star pass-rusher could land on another team this season.
Trading for Reddick won’t be cheap, with any NFC team interested likely giving up a second-round pick to obtain him.
Premium pass-rushers don’t come available for trade often, so you can imagine Reddick will have plenty of suitors. However, trading for Reddick basically guarantees you sign him to a long-term deal.
Which NFL teams make sense at this point to trade for Reddick? Let’s break down the five most logical contenders at this point.
Detroit Lions
The Lions can win a Super Bowl this season, and a second-round pick feels expendable for the franchise in pursuing a player like Reddick. Losing Aidan Hutchinson could make Detroit understandably desperate at this point in the season to replace as much of his impact as it can. Reddick can’t do that in totality, but having him on the roster makes life easier for the Lions. Signing him to an extension might be a hurdle, but Detroit can technically afford it.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are quickly ascending in the NFC as legitimate playoff contenders. Landing another veteran pass-rusher to pair with Montez Sweat feels like a smart play for Chicago, especially if the team is alright with a new contract. Having Reddick and Sweat coming off the edge for a rising Bears team would put the rest of the NFC North on notice. Again, the money shouldn’t be a problem here since Chicago has quarterback Caleb Williams on a rookie contract. The team also has an extra second-round pick from the Carolina Panthers to use at their leisure.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons already sent a 2025 third-round pick to the New England Patriots for outside linebacker Matt Judon this season. However, at 4-2 and with a clear path to the playoffs, don’t be shocked if Atlanta stays aggressive. The team has a league-worst five sacks this season. Adding Reddick could help that number rise in theory. However, if the team wants to re-sign Judon, throwing out two big contracts for veteran rushers is probably not feasible. If the team wants to spend big money, Reddick makes a ton of sense here.
Philadelphia Eagles
Would the Eagles do an about face and bring Reddick back to Philadelphia? It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where the Eagles send outside linebacker Bryce Huff back to New York and give Reddick the deal he wanted all along. Huff returning to the Jets gives that team the pass-rusher it needs, and Reddick thrived with the Eagles while he was there. Perhaps both teams course correct, do a good-old-fashioned player swap and recalibrate the draft compensation. Perhaps this is what’s best for everyone involved?
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals bringing back Reddick and paying him to be their ace pass rusher makes a lot of sense. While Arizona is only 2-4 this season, this is a team trying to win as much as it can right now. The Cardinals might be obliged to take a big swing to help steady the defense. Arizona can still contend in the NFC West. Adding Reddick can make them sharper in that pursuit and in the seasons to come.
