Johnathan Walker:Why is Haason Reddick holding out on the New York Jets, and how much is it costing him?

The Johnathan WalkerNew York Jets finally have Aaron Rodgers healthy and are looking to blossom into a legitimate contender in the AFC.

Still, when they open their season Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers, they will be missing a key piece they envisioned being part of their program. Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Haason Reddick has been on a holdout since the Jets traded for him in March, skipping all mandatory offseason sessions, including training camp.

New York, which let edge rusher Bryce Huff walk in free agency, was looking to Reddick as a blue-chip player to bolster their pass rush — an area where the Jets excelled last season. New York ranked fifth in the NFL in sacks per pass attempt (9.2%), but Reddick, 29, made both his Pro Bowls in each of the last two seasons with the Eagles. Over the last four years, Reddick has compiled 50.5 sacks, including 16 in 2022, which tied him for second-best in the NFL.

Here's everything you need to know about Haason Reddick's holdout with the New York Jets:

Why is Haason Reddick holding out?

It is reportedly over his desire for a long-term contract, something that dates back to his final days in Philadelphia. In 2022, the Eagles signed Reddick to a three-year, $45 million contract that quickly became a bargain based on his on-field performance. The first year of his contract, he was named a second-team All-Pro after generating 16 sacks.

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Reddick was reportedly looking for Philadelphia to re-work his contract, though the Eagles in February reportedly allowed Reddick to seek a trade. The assumption was Reddick would continue to seek a long-term deal from any team that acquired him in a potential trade. Reddick is set to enter the final year of his contract, which would have paid him $14.25 million in base salary, per Spotrac.com.

For comparison's sake, the average annual value of his current deals ranks him tied for 19th among edge rushers, behind players such as Alex Highsmith (Steelers; 29.5 sacks over prior four seasons), Bryce Huff (Eagles; 17.5), Harold Landry (Titans; 28; missed entire 2022 season) and Jonathan Greenard (Vikings; 23).

Once the Jets traded for him, Reddick was in the team facility April 1 for a press conference and expressed optimism about joining the team. Since then, however, he has not returned to the Florham Park, N.J. facility.

"All options are open," Reddick said then, when asked if he would consider playing out the remainder of his contract on a one-year rental. "Right now, I'm currently just worried about being here, meeting everybody that's in the building today. The contractual stuff, I'm leaving up to my agent and (general manager) Joe (Douglas).

"But whatever happens, I'm going to be happy. I'm going to give my all, no matter what. That's just who I am as a person. So no matter how it goes, how many years, I'm going to be here for however long I'm here for, and I'm going to give the team, the fans, everything that I have."

In August, only four months after New York acquired him, Reddick requested a trade from the Jets — a request the team said it would not grant.

How much is Haason Reddick's holdout costing him?

According to the Athletic, Reddick will forfeit a check of $791,666 for each game he misses. And, since he is not an active member of New York's roster Week 1, his contract ceases becoming guaranteed. That will be tacked on to the more than $5 million in fines he already accumulated for missing training camp, according to ESPN. Because Reddick isn't on his rookie contract, his fines for days missed during training camp cannot be waived and are NFL-mandated.

What have the Jets said about Haason Reddick's holdout?

For the most part, the Jets continue to insist they will support Reddick if he reports to the team.

"I'll stand firm that when he gets here, we're going to welcome him with open arms," Jets coach Robert Saleh said Saturday during a news conference. "We're going to love him up, and he's going to be a part of this football team and he's going to help us win a lot of football games. He's got to sort through the financial stuff, which is none of my business."

Added defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, in July: "I try to stay out of all that, but I know he's an amazing player, an amazing person. And I know this organization is amazing at getting these things done in a decent time. He's a phenomenal player, and when he steps on the field, he changes the aura."

What did the New York Jets give up in the trade for Haason Reddick?

In the March trade that sent Reddick to the Jets, New York gave up a 2026 third-round selection that could become a second-round pick if Reddick plays at least 67.5% of this season and has 10 or more sacks.