A day ago, the NFL Network released a part of the NFL’s top 100 players list (voted on by the players themselves). Aaron Rodgers was ranked 92nd on that list due to his Achilles injury and almost zero stats from the last season. Joining him on the honorable list was his teammate, and New York Jets’ defender, Haason Reddick.

This arguably shows Reddick is considered quite equal to Rodgers, or maybe even slightly better if just the past season is taken into consideration. Further, in an unexpected stance, once again this similarity is being highlighted between the two while Reddick is holding out for his contract extension from the franchise.

Haason Reddick is important for Aaron Rodgers?

In a recent episode of SPEAK on July 23, 2024, Emmanuel Acho, Joy Taylor, LeSean McCoy, and Dave Helman reacted to Haason Reddick’s holding out from the Jets training camp. During the debate, ex-NFL linebacker Acho emphasized the Jets LB’s importance, likening him to a crucial piece of the Jets’ defense.

He equated him with Aaron Rodgers saying, “What Aaron Rodgers is to the Jets offense, the missing piece – Hassan Reddick is to the Jets defense, the missing piece. You got a guy who can get you 10 to 15 plus sacks in a season (and) that to me is a huge deal.” He also pointed out his record of four consecutive seasons with 10+ sacks across three different teams.

On the other hand, Taylor too acknowledged the significance of Reddick’s holdout but believed the Jets would eventually pay him. She expressed, “Did you not know you had to pay him? Like I don’t understand why teams do this….What are you saving money for? This is all in at this point baby so you might as well just cut the check and hope for the best because everything is on the table at this point. Aaron Rogers may not be there next year, Salah might not be there next year as it’s a pass fail situation.”

Reddick’s defensive prowess cannot be described better than what the former offensive lineman said. He noted his game-changing ability, and said, “You can line him up at left defensive end and he can beat big run blockers and play the edge and is excellent on twist stunts. In Philly he was nicknamed Freddy Krueger because when he turns the corner a claw is coming out for the quarterback.” Reddick is entering the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract and he is currently holding out by not attending training camps.

What’s in store for Hasson Reddick?

Four months ago, the Jets proudly announced their trade for Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick. Now, Reddick is holding out for a new contract, costing him $50,000 per day due to mandatory fines that can’t be waived. He’s in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract and is set to earn $14.25 million in base pay, plus $500,000 in incentives. The Jets inherited this contract from the Eagles, who traded Reddick in March for a 2026 conditional third-round pick. Initially, the Jets tried to extend his contract, but negotiations failed. Despite this, they thought Reddick would still join the offseason program and start the season as planned. But Reddick surprised everyone by skipping the entire offseason, including the mandatory minicamp in June, losing a $250,000 workout bonus and incurring fines. This holdout has become a major issue for the Jets, who have high hopes for the season.

It’s their first training camp holdout since 2010, a year they last made the playoffs. With a 13-year playoff drought, the longest in the NFL, this situation is particularly stressful. Reddick is one of the league’s top pass rushers with 27 sacks over the past two seasons. Despite his current $15 million per year salary ranking 20th among edge players, he believes he deserves more. After last season, he made it clear he wanted a new deal, reportedly $25 million per year, which would place him among the top five edge players.

Last time when he demanded more money, his former team, the Eagles traded him to the Jets and signed Bryce Huff. Now he is again on a new demand, so will that history be repeated? As of now, the Jets’ Super Bowl aspirations hang in the balance.