4 reasons the Haason Reddick trade is brilliant for the NY Jets

The NY Jets made one of the biggest moves of the entire NFL offseason last week when they acquired star pass rusher Haason Reddick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The trade highlighted the Jets' commitment to maintaining arguably the best pass rush in the NFL following the loss of Bryce Huff. Reddick is being brought in to not only replace Huff but elevate the entire defense around him.

While it's fair to question the Jets' entire process regarding their pass rushers as a whole, there's no denying that the Reddick trade isn't brilliant in a vacuum.

Not only did the Jets acquire one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, but they did so at a remarkable value. We break down why this trade is brilliant on the part of Jets general manager Joe Douglas.

1. Haason Reddick is remarkably durable

The Jets have battled putrid injury misfortune over the last two seasons, and the addition of players like Tyron Smith and Mike Williams — not to mention the return of Aaron Rodgers — only adds more variables to the team's injury luck.

That's why adding someone like Haason Reddick is so important. Reddick has played in a total of 114 out of a possible 115 games in his seven-year NFL career. He missed exactly one game in 2021 as a result of COVID-19 policies at the time.

Reddick has quite literally never missed an NFL game due to injury. Of course, the same was true about safety Chuck Clark when the Jets acquired him last offseason, only for him to tear his ACL in the spring.

Still, Reddick's durability adds increased value to a trade that already looked very promising.

2. The NY Jets received favorable conditions in the trade

The fact that all the Jets had to give up to land Reddick was a Day 2 pick two years in the future is quite impressive. What makes it even more impressive are the specific conditions attached to that pick.

In order for that 2026 conditional third-round pick to become a second-rounder, Reddick must play 67.5 percent of the Jets' defensive snaps in 2024 and he must finish with at least 10 sacks.

Quinnen Williams was the only Jets defensive lineman to reach that snap count in 2023, and he barely did so. No Jets edge rusher played more than 65 percent of snaps. Reddick is more of a three-down player than Huff, but it's fair to suggest he likely won't reach that mark.

Even if he does, finishing with 10+ sacks in a loaded defensive line with plenty of competition for sacks is far from ideal, either. The safe bet is to assume the conditions of the trade aren't hit, making this even more of a home run for the Jets.

3. This was the best possible pivot for the NY Jets

The Jets showed serious interest in signing Jadeveon Clowney in free agency before he agreed to a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. There was some genuine optimism that Clowney would be signed, but his joining the Panthers might prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Clowney is a good player, but he's not at the same level as Reddick. While Reddick will cost the Jets more, he doesn't just replace Huff's role — he's arguably an improvement.

The remaining free-agent options after Clowney signed were less than stellar, with names like Jerry Hughes, Yannick Ngakoue, and Randy Gregory at the top of the list. There was also Calais Campbell, although he's more of a tweener than a true edge defender.

Reddick was the best possible pivot for the Jets after missing on Clowney. Instead of opting for a below-average free-agent option, the Jets swung big and added another All-Pro to their loaded defense.

4. The NY Jets are all in on 2024

The Jets' decision to trade for Reddick emphasizes their commitment to winning in 2024. The organization has made moves centered around the next year or two — a clear sign they're trying to capitalize on their limited Aaron Rodgers window of success.

Reddick is only signed through the 2024 season, and while the Jets are expected to explore extension talks, there's no guarantee they reach a deal before the start of the season.

Trading for Reddick is a win-now move in every sense of the term. Instead of relying on an unproven young player like Will McDonald to take on a larger role, the Jets went with the sure thing, trading for an already-established All-Pro pass rusher.

That's the exact mindset the Jets should be operating in right now with Rodgers as their quarterback. The Reddick trade solidifies that notion.