What the Haason Reddick trade means for NY Jets' salary cap situation

The NY Jets made one of the biggest acquisitions of the Joe Douglas era on Friday when they traded for All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick. Reddick helps establish the Jets as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, completing what is very possibly the best defense in the NFL.

While it's fair to argue the path the Jets took to arrive at this position and their past decisions (letting Bryce Huff walk and drafting Will McDonald), it's very difficult to dispute that this is a brilliant trade for the organization in a vacuum.

The Jets acquired one of the best pass rushers in the NFL for a 2026 conditional third-round pick with very team-friendly conditions. Reddick immediately becomes one of the best players on the Jets' roster.

The Jets have made it clear that they're all-in on the 2024 season, showing a willingness to spend on a number of positions this offseason. How does the Reddick trade specifically affect the team's cap situation?

How much cap space do the NY Jets have after the Haason Reddick trade?

The Jets will reportedly take on $14.5 million of Reddick's contract in 2024. The two-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and was set to count over $21 million against the cap for the Eagles this season.

That's a hefty chunk of money, especially considering the Jets had roughly $9.7 million in cap space remaining prior to the trade. That likely means the Jets will be required to do some cap finagling before the deal becomes official.

There's a chance the Jets lower Reddick's cap hit by either adding void years to his deal or extending him. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo is reporting that the two sides are expected to explore an extension in the near future.

Extending Reddick would not only keep him around past this season, but it would also allow the Jets to significantly lower his 2024 cap hit. Fortunately, the Jets also have other ways to create cap space.

The Jets could restructure the contracts of players like Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Myers. D.J. Reed is also a candidate to be restructured, but it might make more sense to consider extending him as well.

Reddick's $14.5 million cap hit in 2024 is temporarily the fifth-highest on the roster, but that could very well change, given that Williams, Franklin-Myers, and Reed are three of the four names above him.

The Jets will need to do a little cap work before this trade becomes official, but it's nothing that should prevent the Jets from making other moves if need be. The team still has plenty of financial flexibility.

Haason Reddick is a superstar addition for the Jets who doesn't significantly hinder the team's 2024 cap situation.