Haason Reddick could be on the move without ever having played for the Jets.
The Jets have granted Reddick permission to pursue a trade, owner Woody Johnson confirmed to reporters Tuesday at the owner meetings in Atlanta, and Reddick’s new agent Drew Rosenhaus has been contacting teams over the last 12 hours, according to The Athletic.
This is a significant change in the Jets’ stance from August when the Jets said they would not trade him after the star pass rusher requested he be moved.
“We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the (Collective Bargaining Agreement) if he does not report,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said in a statement at the time. “Since the trade discussions back in March we have been clear, direct and consistent with our position.”
The Jets acquired Reddick from the Eagles this offseason but he has not reported to the team due to the lack of a multi-year extension.
Reddick has one year left on his deal with a base salary of $14.25 million and he has accumulated more than $9 million in fines due to his absence.
With the season now six weeks old and the Jets sitting at 2-4 after a tough home loss Monday against the Bills, it’s possible the Jets are trying to at least recover some draft compensation or perhaps in the absence of serious offers, show Reddick that his best option is to report to the Jets.
The Jets also are lighter in draft compensation as of Tuesday morning after trading a conditional third-round pick that can become a second-rounder for star Raiders receiver Dantate Adams.
The Jets traded a conditional 2026 third-round pick to land Reddick.
Johnson recently implored the former Temple star to show up.
“I hope that the young man can come to the team, we’d like to have Haason here. We’d welcome him with open arms,” Johnson said after firing Robert Saleh last week. “When he gets here, he’ll find a very welcome locker room and he’ll be able to fit right in, but he’s got to get here first.
“Haason, get in your car, drive down 95 and come to the New York Jets. We can meet you and give you an escort right into the building and you’ll fit right in and you’ll love it here and you’re going to feel welcome. You’re going to accomplish great things with us.”
The other interesting wrinkle is how this shift comes after Reddick recently hired Rosenhaus, one of the NFL’s premier agents, following his previous agency, CAA, moving on from him amid his contract standoff.
Rosenhaus said Reddick would like to play for the Jets, although it seems that the door is open for him now to make his 2024 debut with another team.
“We are focused on a resolution with the Jets,” Rosenhaus told The Post’s Brian Costello on Monday.
