Instead of giving defensive end Haason Reddick a new contract, the Eagles traded him to the Jets. And because the Jets have yet to sign Reddick to a new contract, he has yet to show up for offseason workouts.
As noted by ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini, the clearest message could come this week if Reddick skips team’s mandatory minicamp and incur fines for doing so.
The fine, which will be less than the usual three-day punishment since the Jets shortened their camp by two days, pales in comparison to the $250,000 workout bonus Reddick has already sacrificed by taking the stand. The goal is to get an improvement over a contract that pays him $14.25 million in his final year.
Reddick had four straight years of double-digit sacks with three different teams. He also never missed a game in his seven-year career.
Wherever he’s supposed to fit in the grand scheme of sackmasters, he’s too short; the top of the market is $34 million.
Here’s the other question, which has come up several times in recent years when a team trades for a player (for example, Laremy Tunsil for the Texans, Jamal Adams for the Seahawks, Jalen Ramsey for the Rams). Why didn’t the Jets sign a new contract at the time the trade was completed?
Once the negotiation takes place, the player will have the advantage. Before the negotiation is completed, the team’s message is simple: “You want a new contract. Your current team won’t give you one. “
That’s why wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still a member of the 49ers. He’s making $14.1 million this year and wants a new contract. If a team trades for him without that new contract, that team will take the 49ers’ place. No team will make this deal without a new deal for Aiyuk.
But that’s exactly what the Jets did with Reddick. They traded for a dissatisfied player who is making a stand. Even if the Jets fully intend to offer him a new deal, the Jets could have gotten better terms than they ever will now if they had finalized a new deal at the same time they finalized the trade in late March.
