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Legendary long-time Philadelphia radio sports talk host, Angelo Cataldi, made a statement on Monday that should be music to the ears of Jets fans.
“They can tell me whatever they want, (Haason) Reddick was the best player on that defense,” Cataldi said during an experience on Jakib Sports In Philadelphia.
On April 1, 2024, Reddick was traded to the Jets for a conditional third-round selection. It can become a second-rounder if Reddick plays 67.5% of the defensive snaps in 2024 and has 10-plus sacks.
The 10-plus sacks part could happen, but the 67.5% part probably isn’t going to happen, so it’s probably going to stay a third-round pick.
It’s not that Reddick isn’t going to play a lot but probably not 67.5% for a few reasons.
First of all, the Jets rotated their defensive linemen as much as any team in the league, and they have two first-round picks in their edge-rusher group – Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald. They also have John Franklin-Myers. Michael Clemons should move inside to defensive tackle.
But right now, even before the draft, they have Johnson, McDonald, Franklin-Myers and Reddick.
So with the rotation of Johnson, McDonald, Franklin-Myers and Reddick all play a lot, let’s just assume it’s straight rotation, Reddick will play about 50 percent.
Another reason Reddick could play about 50 percent is that he’s pedestrian against the run.
In obviously rushing situations, at 6-1, 240 pounds, ideally, you have a bigger player at the end position on the field.
Some Eagles observers are quick to tell you that Reddick wasn’t much of a factor against the run.
“The Bryce Huff move, is a lateral move, because in New York he was only on the field 46 percent of the time, because he can’t play the run,” said Dan Sileo on the National Football Show. “Reddick is also in that category. All you did was move Reddick’s money to [Huff]. He’s the same player, just with less production than Reddick. He can’t play the run either. That’s not an improvement of your defense with that Huff move. Bryce Huff is younger, [but] he’s Reddick 2.0.”
But when you can rush the passer like Reddick can, you figure out way to deal with the run defense issues, including not using the player a ton in short-yardage situations.
the last four years, Reddick has 12.5, 11, 16 and 11 sacks the last four years.
The Jets should sign up for one of those numbers this year
Not that you ever want to injure an opponent, remember in the NFL Championship game two years ago, it was a Reddick sack of San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy that knocked the quarterback out of the game with an elbow injury.
This guy is an elite pass rusher, so to get him, even with run game shortcomings, for a third-round pick, could be a major steal for the Jets.
And he certainly fits the Jets’ scheme better than the new Eagles’ scheme. Philly is moving to a 3-4 defense, which would make Reddick play outside linebacker, which is a bad fit for him.
With the Jets, he will be able to pin his ears back and go after the QB, which is his super-power.
If Cataldi is correct, wow, what a steal by Joe Douglas.
April 8, 2024
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