New York Jets' Robert Saleh Analyzes 'Three-Way Rusher' Haason Reddick

The New York Jets already talented defense was made even better with the recent trade for former Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick.

Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7) / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

While last season didn’t turn out the way that many hoped it would for the New York Jets, it wasn’t all bad. Despite what their 7-10 record may say, the Jets did have a bright spot last season: their vaunted defense.

Even while their offensive struggles with a poor offensive line and quarterback play saw them finish near the bottom of the league in points per game, it didn’t stop their defense from proving their quality. While the offense was one of the league’s worst, the defense was one of the best, finishing No. 10 in points allowed per game while boasting the top pass defense, which allowed the league’s least passing yard per game at 168.3.

Despite entering the offseason with much discussion about where to improve was focused on the offense, the Jets managed to upgrade their defense with the trade for Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick. 

"He's got a great feel for the game. He's not a one-way rusher,” Jets coach Robert Saleh recently said of Reddick. “He's a three-way rusher in that he can beat you around the edge, he can beat you with a counter move inside, and he can run right through your face. He's very good with his hands, he's very instinctive, he understands where the quarterback is, and obviously he's got tremendous athleticism."'

Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7) / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

At 29 years old, Reddick is in the prime of his career as he moves to New York fresh off four consecutive seasons with at least 10 sacks. To make things even more impressive, dating back to 2022, his first season in Philadelphia, Reddick has accumulated the fourth-most sacks in the league at 27. Meanwhile, he ranks third in ESPN’s “pass rush wins” metric, only behind Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons. 

Considering the front seven was already a major strength of the Jets’ defense as they boasted the likes of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, defensive end John Franklin-Meyers, and linebackers C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, Reddick gives them an elite edge rusher.

However, while the Jets will certainly hope Reddick can make it five straight seasons with double-digit sacks, they are also looking for him to help mentor his younger teammates, like last year’s first-round rookie Will McDonald IV. 

"They're a different body makeup," Saleh said of the potential mentorship. "Will is much longer, ganglier, but the same type of mindset. Will can win outside, he can win inside. Hasson, being a smaller guy, had to learn how to run through someone's face and he's figured that out. That's what Will's got to take, that next step. … When he does that, he becomes a three-way rusher. Will will be just as dominant."