Jets Hall of Famer gives stamp of approval for Haason Reddick trade

If there's any current or former NY Jets player who knows about getting after opposing quarterbacks it's Joe Klecko. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is just as bullish about the Haason Reddick trade as many Jets fans appear to be.

Klecko spoke with ESPN's Rich Cimini this weekend and made it clear he's pumped up about his former team's decision to trade for Reddick. The Jets legend has high hopes for Reddick in New York.

"He's a player-and-a-half. I don't care how good they were on defense last year; it wasn't good enough. Reddick makes them a much better football team. The opposite of a great quarterback is having great guys to put the quarterback down. That's how the NFL works. This is a big deal. I love it."

Joe Klecko

Klecko praised the Jets' defense last season while also claiming "it wasn't good enough." This is despite the team finishing with the highest sack rate in the NFL while ranking third in yards allowed per game despite being saddled with one of the worst offenses in recent memory.

Of course, if you're not winning games, however, nothing is good enough. That seems to be Klecko's mindset here, and he believes that Reddick will help the Jets win in 2024.

Joe Klecko and NY Jets fans are excited about the Haason Reddick trade

Klecko highlighted the importance of finding players who can "put quarterbacks down," emphasizing that Reddick will help the Jets accomplish that goal.

The addition of Reddick was even more crucial following the loss of Bryce Huff in free agency. Huff has been the most efficient pass rusher in football over the last two seasons, so replacing him was never going to be an easy task.

The Jets heavily pursued Jadeveon Clowney in free agency before pivoting to Reddick after the former signed with the Carolina Panthers. That might prove to be a blessing in disguise for the organization.

While Clowney undoubtedly would've been a cheaper investment, Reddick is one of just two players, along with Myles Garrett, to record double-digit sacks in each of the last seasons. Clowney is good — Reddick is great.

That's excellent news for a Jets team that, despite losing one of their best players in the offseason, can very well claim to have the best and most talented defense in the NFL following the addition of Reddick.

The Jets have five players on their defense who have been named to an All-Pro team in at least one of the last two seasons. They're the first team to be able to claim that since the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. That's not even including players like D.J. Reed, Jermaine Johnson, Michael Carter II, and John Franklin-Myers.

Haason Reddick completes one of the best defensive units the Jets have ever had. And if there's anyone who would know a thing or two about dominant defenses, it's Joe Klecko.