Haason Reddick Hires New Agents, To Discuss Contract Resolution With Jets
Haason Reddick was recently let go by CAA, briefly leaving him without representation in the midst of his ongoing Jets holdout. That is no longer the case, however. 
The standout rusher has hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha, as noted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Rosenhaus has already spoken with the Jets about the holdout, and he will attend tonight’s game against the Bills. This development could result in movement at the negotiating table.
[RELATED: Jets Not Willing To Discuss Multiyear Deal]
“We look forward to working with the Jets to get this resolved as soon as possible, a statement from Rosenhaus reads. “Haason would like to be a New York Jet for years to come and our goal is to make that happen.”
One offer was made by the Jets around the time of their decision to trade for Reddick, whose attempts to secure an Eagles extension were unsuccessful. That offer was below market value, however, and no further talks took place during the offseason. New York remained insisted Reddick report to the team during spring workouts and later training camp, which the 30-year-old has still yet to do. A summer trade request was quickly shot down by Jets general manager Joe Douglas.
More recently, a new offer was submitted which would have allowed Reddick to recoup the lost money he has accumulated in fines by holding out. Notably, that proposal arrived after the regular season began, potentially giving the two-time Pro Bowler a means of accruing a year of service time and thus keeping him on track for free agency. That offer was rejected and followed by CAA dropping him as a client. It will be interesting to see if the switch in representation yields progress.
The Jets have remained strong on defense this year, but their pass rush suffered a major blow when Jermaine Johnson suffered an Achilles tear. The departure of Bryce Huff in free agency and the draft-day trade of John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos left plenty of playing time available for Reddick once he reported to the team (as was expected several months ag0). The former Cardinal, Panther and Eagle has amassed 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons, and New York envisioned a three-down role for him upon arrival. 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald has impressed while handling an increased workload so far, but adding Reddick to the fold would be signficant for the team’s defense.
By virtue of remaining on the reserve/did not report list, Reddick is currently only accounting for a $750K cap charge at the moment. If/when is activated, that figure will jump considerably since a resolution of some kind will have been made. With new agents in place to negotiate with the front office, progress on that front could be in store.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Expects Tua Tagovailoa To Return In 2024
As he continues to recover from his latest concussion, Tua Tagovailoa faces an unclear return timeline. When addressing the situation on Monday, though, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel expressed for the first time his expectation the team’s franchise quarterback will return this year. 
“I do expect to see him playing football in 2024,” McDaniel said (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). “But where that is, exactly — we’ll let the process continue, since we still have time before he can even entertain anything. We’ll make sure that he’s diligent this week and assess after that.”
Indeed, Tagovailoa is not eligible to suit up until Week 8 at the earliest since he is on injured reserve. A return at that point has been raised as a possibility, although McDaniel added Tagovailoa will continue meeting with concussion experts this over the coming days. It is not known at this point if the 26-year-old will return to practice next week, the first point at which he will be able to do so.
Still, Tagovailoa has made positive strides in his recovery, leading to optimism he will be healthy and able to play at some point later in the campaign. Getting the Pro Bowler back in the fold at any time will mark a notable boost to Miami’s offense, a unit which has struggled in his absence. Former seventh-rounder Skylar Thompson and later Tyler Huntley (added off the Ravens’ practice squad) have guided the Dolphins to low-scoring outputs since Tagovailoa went down. The Dolphins currently sit at 2-3 on the year with a league-worst average of 12 points per game.
McDaniel confirmed Huntley will remain atop the depth chart for the time being, and coming off the team’s bye he could face increased expectations regarding his level of play in an offense he is still acclimating to. How Tagovailoa fares over immediate future will be critical, though, as the Dolphins approach the point at which he could return to practice. If all goes well, he should be back on the field before the end of the campaign..
Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson Undergoes Surgery
4:17pm: Head coach Dan Campbell offered a four-to-six month timeline when speaking to the media on Monday (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). While he did not rule out the possibility of Hutchinson returning this year, that timeframe would still make it a surprise if it such a comeback were to take place.
10:42am: Aidan Hutchinson‘s recovery process has begun. The Lions announced on Monday he underwent successful surgery to repair the broken tibia and fibula he suffered in Week 6. 
A rod was inserted into Hutchinson’s leg, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds this injury generally involves a six-to-eight month recovery timeline. No firm timetable was given in the Lions’ announcement, but it would come as a surprise if he were to play again in 2024. Before the news of the operation, Richard Silva and Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News reported Hutchinson avoided the worst-case scenario and that a return in time for the Super Bowl could be in play.
For now, attention will turn to the former second overall pick’s rehab process and how the Lions will attempt to replace him. Hutchinson earned a Pro Bowl nod last season after he racked up 11.5 sacks; he was well on his way to surpassing that total in 2024 with 7.5 before he went down. That made him an early candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award but at a minimum cemented his status as an anchor on Detroit’s defensive line. With the team already dealing with other injuries along the edge (including Marcus Davenport being out for the year), it will be a challenge to remain impactful in the pass-rush department.
Detroit has John Cominsky and Nate Lynn on IR, with James Houston not carving out a regular role so far. Josh Paschal and Isaac Ukwu (provided he is promoted from the practice squad) are among the players who could be in line for an increased snap share at the defensive end spots. Alim McNeill – who posted five sacks last season and is halfway to matching that total in 2024 – will be counted on to deliver against the pass along the interior as the Lions look to remain among the NFC’s elite moving forward.
Hutchinson will be eligible for an extension this offseason, and he had been playing his way into a monster accord with his production before the injury. It will be interesting to see how he and the Lions proceed on the contract front after the campaign as a 2025 return remains the target.
Texans DL Mario Edwards Issued Four-Game Suspension
The Texans will get Denico Autry back from suspension in Week 7, but the team will be without Mario Edwards for a notable stretch. The latter was issued a four-game ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. 
Edwards will thus be sidelined until Week 10, dealing a notable blow to Houston’s defensive front. The free agent pickup has logged a 59% snap share so far this season. That matches the highest total of his career, so his absence will be felt as the team looks to continue its strong start to the campaign.
An NFL journeyman well before he decided to head to Houston, Edwards spent his first three seasons with the Raiders. That time was followed by short stints with the Giants, Saints, Bears, Titans and Seahawks. The 30-year-old inked a one-year deal to return to the AFC South this spring, signing for just over the veteran minimum ($1.65MM, $500K guaranteed). Serving as a full-time starter during his debut Houston campaign, Edwards has provided strong value to date.
The Florida State product posted one sack in each of the team’s first two games, and he recorded a season-high eight tackles during Sunday’s win over the Patriots. That production could be difficult to replace in the short term, although getting Autry back will certainly help in that regard. Autry received a six-game PED suspension in July, but now that he has served that penalty the Texans will receive a one-week roster exemption for him. A corresponding move will need to be made for Autry to return to the active roster if he is not activated ahead of Houston’s Week 7 game.
Edwards is once again a pending free agent, and today’s news is obviously an unwanted development with respect to his market value. A strong start to the season will lead to his expectations for his return, however. The Texans rank third in total defense, and they will look to remain among the league’s top units without Edwards in the picture for the time being.
Vikings Open G Dalton Risner’s Practice Window
Dalton Risner is nearing a return to action. The Vikings guard had his practice window opened on Monday, per a team announcement. 
The move allows Risner to resume practicing. He must be activated in the next 21 days to avoid reverting to season-ending injured reserve. Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell indicated at the beginning of the month Risner would not be ready to practice when first eligible, but he has clearly made progress since then.
The 29-year-old landed on IR in August, a move which guaranteed he would be sidelined for at least the first four games of the season. The Vikings took advantage of the NFL’s new offseason IR rules by designating him for return ahead of roster cutdowns. Doing so prevented the team for needing to name him to the initial roster, although he did use up one of the eight available in-season activations for the campaign.
Once Risner is back in the picture, he will offer a starting-caliber option up front for the undefeated Vikings. The former Bronco started each of his 62 appearances with Denver, and after plenty of time on the open market he landed a one-year Vikings pact. The former second-rounder wound up making 15 appearances during his debut Minnesota season, including 11 starts.
Once again, a longer free agent spell than expected ensued, but Risner ultimately re-signed with the Vikings. The terms of that pact – one year, $2.41MM – certainly do not guarantee a first-team role in 2024, and Ed Ingram and Blake Brandel have handled guard duties to date. Risner could look to unseat the latter once he if back to full health, although Brandel’s 2024 PFF grade (64.5) is the highest of his career.
Minnesota’s offense has performed better than expected with Sam Darnold at quarterback this season, and his market value has received a notable boost given how things currently stand. Bringing Risner back into the fold will help that unit once he is activated.
Commanders DT Jonathan Allen Suffers Season-Ending Pectoral Injury
The Commanders fell to 4-2 on Sunday, and their defense may have been dealt a major blow in the process. Jonathan Allen is feared to have suffered a pectoral injury which would require season-ending surgery, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. 
A second opinion is being sought out before a final decision is made, Pelissero adds. If the surgery is deemed necessary, however, Allen’s absence will create a major vacancy along the defensive line. The two-time Pro Bowler has been a full-time starter throughout his Washington tenure, including the 2024 season which was preceded by a number of changes on the field and the sidelines. Allen has indeed torn his left pec, an MRI confirmed (h/t ESPN’s John Keim).
The former first-rounder has spent his entire eight-year career in the nation’s capital, a tenure which has not yielded much in the way of team success. Allen – who has posted at least 5.5 sacks in a season five times – made it clear last December he was not interested in being part of a rebuild. The Commanders are in the midst of that process, but its early returns under general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has produced encouraging results. Allen recorded 15 tackles along with a pair of sacks before suffering his first major injury since 2017.
Washington has invested heavily along the defensive interior recently, with Allen being joined by Daron Payne in terms of receiving a lucrative contract. Allen, 29, is on the books through 2025 (although none of his 15.5MM base salary for that year is guaranteed). On the radar of teams looking to acquire him via trade this offseason, he will now see his value take a hit as his attention turns to a lengthy rehab process. Payne, meanwhile, will continue to be counted on as a starter moving forward.
The Commanders selected Phidarian Mathis in the second round of the 2022 draft, but he has yet to start a game in his career. His 2024 snap share (34%) marks a career high, however, and that figure could stand to increase with Allen no longer in the fold. Second-round rookie Jer’Zhan Newton has handled a similar workload in his five appearances this year. He too should be expected to feature more often in Washington’s rotation up front over the remainder of the campaign.
The division-leading Commanders have posted middling numbers in a number of categories this year. Improving on that side of the ball will be key over the coming months, but without Allen available that effort will be a challenge along the D-line in particular.
Patriots Release OL Nick Leverett
Nick Leverett briefly stepped in as the Patriots’ David Andrews replacement at center. He struggled in that role, however, and the team is set to move on. 
New England will release Leverett, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move (which is now official) comes after he was charged by PFF with 10 pressures and one sack allowed in Week 5 against the Dolphins. In advance of Sunday’s contest, the Patriots added Ben Brown off the Raiders’ practice squad. It was Brown who got the start at center yesterday, a sign of how Leverett was viewed in the organization.
Now, the the latter will hit the open market. Leverett, 27, began his career with the Buccaneers in 2020. It was one year later that he made his regular season debut, appearing in a pair of games. During the 2022 season, he started 10 of his 11 contests, operating almost exclusively at left guard. The former UDFA signed a one-year deal in March to provide depth on an offensive line which faced plenty of questions ahead of the campaign. Given the low-money nature of New England’s investment, Leverett’s release will produce only $575K in dead money while yielding $1.2MM in cap savings.
Leverett earned a PFF grade of 64 in 2022, but his evaluations through the rest of his career have left plenty to be desired. The extent of his struggles in Week 5 will certainly not help his market value, although teams around the league are often interested in healthy depth up front. The Rice product will look to help his free agent prospects by latching onto a roster in short order, something which could result in new playing time opportunities.
Andrews is out for the year after he underwent shoulder surgery, but he is under contract through next season and will reprise his starting gig once healthy. Brown is now positioned to handle first-team duties moving forward as the 1-5 Patriots look to find a successful combination up front.
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Addresses Jabrill Peppers’ Future With Team
Jabrill Peppers was recently arrested on a number of charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident. The Patriots safety is currently the subject of a league investigation, leaving his future with the team in question. 
Peppers is on the commissioner’s exempt list, and both the NFL and the Patriots are looking into the situation. Depending on the outcome of that process, he could soon find himself in free agency. Patriots owner Robert Kraft publicly stated Peppers will be released if the accusations he faces are proven true.
“When you read the [police report] initially, it turns your stomach,” Kraft said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “Once he goes on the commissioner exempt list, they do their independent checking. We’re doing ours. If what was reported is true, he’s gone. There have been some suggestions that this was a set-up and a lot of what was reported isn’t accurate… We want to get the facts.”
Peppers is alleged to have choked a woman and shoved her head against a wall outside his Braintree, Mass., apartment; he is also facing charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and the possession of a class B substance. The 29-year-old has been in New England since 2022, and this summer he agreed to a three-year extension. A portion of his 2025 salary is guaranteed as a result of that agreement, but a suspension under the personal conduct policy could void that compensation.
Cutting Peppers now would create a dead money charge of $8.73MM (although the remaining guarantees in his base salary for this year could of course be altered by league discipline). New England certainly has the cap space to absorb such a move, but it would leave the team in need of a new full-time starter in the secondary. Peppers has handled starting duties since last year, but his NFL future could change in short order depending on the outcome of the NFL’s investigation.
Community Tailgate: WR Trade Market
With less than one month remaining until the trade deadline, a number of players could soon be on the move. The receiver position in particular is set to see notable deals over the coming weeks. 
Davante Adams’ name was mentioned in trade talk before the 2023 deadline with an Aaron Rodgers reunion being a possibility. Once again, the Jets are in the running and they represent the former Packers All-Pro’s preferred destination. The Saints also loom as a serious contender, though, and playing once again with Derek Carr would be a situation Adams is amenable to. New Orleans has aggressively pursued a trade agreement with the Raiders over the past several days.
The Raiders have remained consistent in their asking price of a second-round pick plus other compensation, however, and no suitor has come close to meeting it at this point. Vegas also prefers not to retain salary on the 31-year-old’s deal, one which runs through 2026. Without any guarantees remaining after the current campaign, Adams will either be a rental or a player who works out a restructure upon arrival with a new team.
Rehabbing a hamstring injury, he could of course remain with the Raiders if no trade agreement is worked out. The team sits at 2-3 on the year, and struggles on offense have resulted in Aidan O’Connell taking over at quarterback. Selling Adams or other veterans over the coming weeks would aid Vegas’ long-term goals while allowing him to aid a potential Super Bowl run elsewhere. The Fresno State product has five 1,100-yard seasons on his resume.
Aside from Adams, several wideouts could offer a considerable boost to a contending team down the stretch. Pending free agents are often the names to watch ahead of the deadline, but some receivers with term remaining on their deals may also get dealt soon.
One of those is Christian Kirk, whose availability will be tied to the Jaguars’ record over the coming weeks. At 1-5, Jacksonville does not have a clear path to the postseason and questions have been raised over the job security of head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke. Owner Shad Khan, for his part, remains confident in the team’s decision-makers.
The Jags are not currently interested in adopting a sellers’ standpoint, but Kirk has drawn interest from potential suitors. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2025, although he is not due any guarantees that season. Near the front of one of the receiver position’s recent financial waves, Kirk inked a four-year deal averaging $18MM per year; that figure has since been surpassed many times over, and his production to date in Jacksonville (which includes a career-year in 2021 and a 13.2 yards per catch average) has been notable. The former Cardinal could provide relatively cost-effective play at or near the top of a new WR depth chart.
DeAndre Hopkins represents a pure rental, as his contract will expire after the 2024 campaign. The three-time All-Pro had a strong debut Tennessee season (75-1,075-7 statline), but with the team facing a steep path to postseason contention he could be offloaded. The Titans made a big-money investment in Calvin Ridley this offseason, also adding Tyler Boyd on a one-year deal. If Hopkins is not in the organization’s long-term plans, adding draft capital could pave the way to a younger receiving option being added. 
To little surprise, Tennessee has received calls about the 32-year-old’s availability. Any number of teams could stand to add him to their receiving corps, and the Chiefs could be a team to watch on this front. Kansas City – or any other contender – would need to take on a prorated portion of Hopkins’ $8.27MM salary, a figure which could fit into the cap structure of at least some playoff-bound teams.
Likewise, Diontae Johnson is attached to an expiring contract; his base salary sits at $7MM and the Panthers have paid a notable portion of that out through the first six weeks of the campaign. Acquired via trade from the Steelers (after he requested to be moved), the Pro Bowler did not immediately find himself on the extension radar for Carolina. Given the team’s struggles, moving on before a potential free agent departure would allow the Panthers to recoup draft capital.
At the age of 28, Johnson represents one of the younger wideouts who figures to be available at the deadline. Bills head coach Sean McDermott recently spoke about the inexperienced nature of their post-Stefon Diggs WR setup, with Johnson being named as a potential target. Buffalo ranks near the bottom of the league in cap space, though, which could complicate a deal for any pass-catching help.
Trade speculation is not new to the likes of Amari Cooper (Browns) or Darius Slayton (Giants). Neither veteran expects to be dealt in the near future, but both are on expiring deals. Cleveland and New York entered Sunday’s action with three combined wins, so either or both teams considering a sale of experienced players would not come as a surprise. If the top receivers on the market move soon, interest could pick up for at least one member of the Cooper-Slayton pair. Given their 1-4 record, meanwhile, the Bengals could (at a minimum) give thought to a Tee Higgins trade since the franchise-tagged wideout is widely expected to depart during the spring.
With respect to receivers on their rookie deals, Tyquan Thornton is known to be available. The 2022 second-rounder is being shopped by the Patriots, although his value is not particularly high with just 37 receptions to his name. Romeo Doubs is also playing on the third year of his initial pact, and questions about his future arose in the midst of his team-induced, one-game Packers suspension for Week 5. No trade is believed to have been contemplated by Green Bay, though, and Doubs, 24, is back with the team.
With a multitude of receivers to keep an eye on, several options exist for teams looking to make a splash for the second half of the campaign. How do you see things playing out? Which wideouts will ultimately be moved, and which contenders will pay the price to acquire them? Have your say in the comments section below.
Jets’ Haason Reddick Dropped By Agency
OCTOBER 13: A new agreement may soon be reached regarding Reddick finding new representation, per veteran insider Josina Anderson. Nothing is firmly in place at this point, but changes on that front could be followed by some kind of Jets resolution. Then again, Reddick has already turned aside a New York offer during the regular season.
OCTOBER 10: The Haason Reddick saga has taken another notable turn. As his Jets holdout continues, the veteran edge rusher has been dropped by his agency, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Reddick has remained away from the Jets since his introductory news conference in April. No movement is known to have taken place with respect to a contract resolution being reached, although his agents have been in communication with general manager Joe Douglas. That process has not yielded results, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes a philosophical difference has resulted in CAA’s decision to move on.
A number of veteran players have engaged in holdouts (or at least hold-ins) while seeking a new or upgraded contract during the offseason, something which is done in conjunction with their representatives. As SNY’s Connor Hughes confirms, however, Reddick’s actions have not been on the recommendation of his agents. The 30-year-old has decided on his own to continue holding out through the regular season after skipping OTAs, minicamp and training camp.
Doing so has resulted in major financial penalties. Reddick racked up over $8MM in fines for his offseason absences, and he has missed out on $4.2MM in base salary for the 2024 season. A pending free agent (but only if he accrues a year of service time by reporting relatively soon), the two-time Pro Bowler was dealt from the Eagles to the Jets once it became clear Philadelphia would not commit to a new contract. A Jets offer was turned down, and the team has insisted new negotiations will not take place until Reddick reports. It very much remains to be seen when (if at all) that will take place.
Reddick requested a trade in August, but Douglas immediately made it clear no consideration to such a move would be given. While a deal sending him elsewhere remains possible, the former first-rounder is not expected to be included in any potential Davante Adams trade. Speculation on Reddick’s future will thus remain tied to his willingness to remain absent through the coming weeks.
Jets owner Woody Johnson said Reddick would be welcomed “with open arms” if he were to report, adding, “he’s got to get here first. So, Haason, get in your car, drive down I-95 and come to the New York Jets. We can meet you and give you an escort right in the building and you will fit right in and you’re going to love it here, and you’re going to feel welcome and you’re going to accomplish great things with us” (h/t ESPN’s Rich Cimini).
The Jets paid a conditional 2026 third-round pick – which could become a second-round selection – to acquire Reddick. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, a trade back to the Eagles at this time is not permissible under league rules. Other suitors could eventually be in play, though, in which case the other selection involved in this situation (a 2026 second-rounder) would become particularly important. Veteran insider Josina Anderson reports the conditions on that pick are tied to Reddick’s destination if he does wind up being traded away again.
Speculation increased that New York could re-engage on a resolution after Jermaine Johnson‘s Achilles tear. That has not proven to be the case, and 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald has posted six sacks while stepping into an increased role. What happens next on the Jets’ part will be worth watching closely. Of course, the possibility remains that Reddick continues to hold out – a move which will no doubt negatively affect his ability to land new representation in the future.