9 NY Jets players who definitely won't be back in 2025

4. Haason Reddick won't be back with the NY Jets in 2025

While Javon Kinlaw, Micheal Clemons, and Leki Fotu underperformed in 2024, no player epitomized the Jets’ mismanagement of the defensive line more than Haason Reddick. His situation serves as a stark reflection of the broader dysfunction that defined the entire Jets’ season.

The Jets pivoted to Reddick after letting Bryce Huff walk in free agency, striking a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles that saw Gang Green send a conditional third-round pick to their cross-conference trade partners.

The Jets seemed to be under the assumption that Reddick would report to OTAs and later training camp without securing a new contract, but as we all know, that never happened.

Reddick would hold out throughout training camp and miss the first seven weeks of the season. The Jets' pass rush struggled on a weekly basis, especially following an injury to Jermaine Johnson, all while Reddick sat at home and tanked his own value.

Months of drama and one dropped agency later, Reddick finally returned to the Jets in late October. Unfortunately, Reddick looked slow and out of shape and it showed on the field. He remains the only qualified edge rusher in the NFL (min. 200 pass rush snaps) not to record a full sack this season.

The Jets might as well have lit a third-round pick on fire and saved themselves the trouble. This will go down as one of the worst trades in franchise history — and one of the most foolish holdouts the league has ever seen.

3. C.J. Mosley won't be back with the NY Jets in 2025

C.J. Mosley deserves his flowers for revitalizing his Jets career. After a rocky start, Mosley eventually returned to his All-Pro form, establishing himself as the vocal leader of the defense both on and off the field.

The Jets' decision to restructure his contract and keep him around in the offseason made sense at the time. Mosley was just two years removed from a second-team All-Pro season and was arguably even better in 2023. There was no reason to consider splitting up possibly the best linebacker duo in the NFL.

At least, that was the offseason narrative. Unfortunately, the injury bug once again struck, as Mosley would play just four games in 2024 as a result of various injuries. He briefly returned from a midseason toe injury only to find that Jamien Sherwood had taken his starting job.

Mosley isn't a free agent in the offseason and moving on would be costly, but it's hard to see the next regime bringing him back given his age and injury history. The Jets could designate Mosley as a post-June 1st cut and save $4 million in 2025 and over $3 million in 2026.

The decision becomes an even easier one if the Jets are able to re-sign Sherwood, who is set to hit free agency in March. Either way, Mosley has likely played his final game for the Jets.