Jaguars should pounce on new trade candidate after Jets' latest disaster

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a dynamic pass-rush tandem in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. They also have a promising No. 3 in Trevis Gipson, who signed with the team in free agency. But that shouldn't stop the team's brass from adding reinforcements to the defensive trenches. Coincidentally, edge rusher Haason Reddick has made it known that he isn't interested in playing for the New York Jets and wants to be traded.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that Reddick wants to be traded and will be holding out as long as the Jets don't grant his request. Insider Jordan Schultz also scooped the news.

Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York points out that the Jets were open to adjusting Reddick's current deal but only when he showed up, noting that they will not "cater to a player who has never played a down for them before."

New York, for their part, released a statement indicating that they've let Reddick know that they won't trade him and will fine him as long as he doesn't report to the team.

A first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2017, Reddick needed a bit of time to hit his stride but he put it all together in 2020, registering 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. He went on to play one season for the Carolina Panthers and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.

Reddick asked Philly for a pay bump and was instead sent to New York in exchange for a conditional third-round selection that can turn into a second-round if he reaches certain performance-based thresholds. He had originally told the Jets' brass that he wouldn't be holding out and wasn't looking for an extension before the start of the season. However, the two-time Pro Bowl nod has changed his stance since then.

Justin Fried of The Jet Press hypothesizes that when John Franklin-Myers was traded during the draft, Reddick's agent might've seen the chance to get more leverage. This is a fluid situation but the truth is that the Temple product doesn't have much leverage.

Unlike wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who's got lots of demand for his services and can choose where to go, Reddick doesn't have much of a market right now, so his options are to show up and earn a new deal or sit for as long as he wants and get fined in the process.

Why the Jaguars call the Jets about the disgruntled Haason Reddick

Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen combined for 27.5 sacks the past two years. They should be even better with Ryan Nielsen calling the shots on defense. Add the arrival and Arik Armstead, who'll draw attention inside, and the Jaguars' bookend pass rushers should be even better in 2024.

With Trevis Gipson in the fold, the Jaguars' rotation looks in good shape but there's no doubt that Reddick could be the missing piece to turn their defensive front into a top-5 unit in the NFL. His 50.5 sacks, along with his 13 forced fumbles the past four seasons show just how dominant he is.

At $26.8 million, the cap space to make to pull off a trade and give him a raise. It also helps that the Jags have extra third and fourth-round selections in 2025 after trading down from No. 17 to No. 23 in this year's draft.

Keep in mind that the Jaguars have already taken care of their cornerstone players in the offseason, so trading for Reddick and giving him a raise in 2024 wouldn't ruffle feathers in the locker room. Granted, the New York Jets already took a stance, but it doesn't hurt the Jacksonville Jaguars to give them a call.

Who knows, maybe the Jets decide that they don't want to deal with the headache and cave.

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