Bears Urged to Act Fast, Offer Trade for $45 Million All-Pro Edge Rusher

“While the Jets rebuffed Reddick’s trade request, that could be a tactic to try to maintain or salvage the team’s leverage in contract or trade negotiations,” B/R wrote. “Chicago GM Ryan Poles should at least call Joe Douglas to see if he is willing to budge since the Bears could use someone to hold down the edge opposite Montez Sweat. Also, with a projected $38.3 million of cap space available in the offseason, per Over The Cap, the Bears have enough funds to give Reddick the contract extension he’s looking for.”

Bears, Haason Reddick Pairing Arguably Best-Case Scenario for Both Sides

GettyFormer Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick.

The Bears have already shown an interest in adding another high-end edge rusher by getting in on, and finishing second in, the trade sweepstakes for former New England Patriots sack specialist Matthew Judon. Judon ended up with the Atlanta Falcons, who sent New England a third-rounder in return, though that may actually prove the best outcome for the Bears if they can land Reddick.

Reddick is two years younger than Judon and has been healthy for the entirety of his career, missing just one regular season start in seven years. Judon, meanwhile, sat out 13 contests last season with a torn biceps and is also looking for a multiyear extension.

Chicago might need to give up a little more to land Reddick than it would have Judon, as the Jets must at least recoup the conditional third-rounder, which could become a second-rounder, they sent to Philly if they’re going to move on from the headache that has been Reddick’s holdout this summer.

The Bears can offer that in the form of their second-round pick, which should fall somewhere in between the mid-40s and early-60s if they finish in the top half of the league record-wise. Chicago owns the Carolina Panthers‘ second-round selection, which should mean another pick earlier in the second round to add more inexpensive rookie talent to an improving roster.

The Bears have also already shown a willingness to make the kind of investment in an edge rusher that it would take to secure Reddick, after trading a second-round pick to the Washington Commanders for Sweat ahead of last year’s trade deadline. Chicago promptly extended Sweat on a four-year deal worth $98 million.

Jets Advised to Cut Ties With Haason Reddick

GettyOutside linebacker Haason Reddick, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

There is also an argument to be made for New York moving on from Reddick before things get too messy.

Andrew Siciliano, formerly of NFL Network, articulated the argument while filling in as a host on the August 13 edition the “Rich Eisen Show.”

“If I’m the Jets, I just let him go. Get him out. You’re going to have to wear this. I’m sorry Jets, but this makes you look bad. There is really no other way around it,” Siciliano said. “It makes him look bad, and I don’t know what the true conversation was behind the scenes, but you traded for a guy with whom you had no deal. You always do the deal before the trade.”

Reddick has tallied at least 11 sacks in each of the previous four seasons, posting a career high of 16 sacks in 2022. He has amassed 58 sacks and 69 tackles for loss across 114 regular-season games played, per Pro Football Reference.