The Detroit Lions missed out on acquiring Matthew Judon, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons, but could be in the mix to land All-Pro edge rusher Haason Reddick to place opposite Aidan Hutchinson along a menacing front seven.
Reddick is embroiled in what appear to be stalled out negotiations on a long-term contract with the New York Jets after being dealt by the Philadelphia Eagles back in March.
The 29-year-old with 58 career sacks has yet to step foot into the Jets’ facility and has accrued over $1.3 million in fines for skipping this spring’s mandatory minicamp and launching a training camp holdout now into the second week of the preseason schedule.
Detroit Lions Could Be Ideal Fit for New York Jets’ Haason Reddick
NFL analyst Dan Pizzuta put together a list of Reddick’s best trade fits, including the Lions who already boast a roster capable of making a legitimate Super Bowl charge in the NFC one year removed from a conference championship game berth.
“Putting Reddick with Hutchinson would open up more 1-on-1 pass-rushing opportunities for both,” Pizzuta points out for The 33rd Team. “Giving the Lions a legitimate threat on every down. It would also help develop other edge rushers on the roster. The depth behind Hutchinson is still questionable.
“Detroit brought in Marcus Davenport as the No. 2 pass rusher, but he’s only on a one-year deal. He’s been on the PUP list during camp after appearing in just four games last season with the Vikings. While Davenport is a productive pass rusher when healthy, it’s hard to rely on him as a consistent starter.”
Pairing Reddick with Hutchinson would certainly create one of the more formidable and disruptive pass-rush duos in the league, while significantly bolstering a Lions pass-rush that finished second in the NFL in pass-rush efficiency last season.
From a Jets perspective, if general manager Joe Douglas views this ongoing saga as not being worth the headache or he doesn’t believe Reddick is ever going to sign with the franchise, dealing him out of the AFC may be the most palatable option.
But, there is some skepticism inside the league that a Reddick trade is in the cards.
“Look, anything is possible,” a prominent agent familiar with the pass-rusher market tells me. “But who is doing that trade at this point, and who is going to pay him, and give up draft picks to get him?”
Detroit has the cap space, with upwards of $42 million in spending flexibility this season, and a young roster loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball to make a Reddick extension possible and he could be the type of player that puts the defense over the top.
