Haason Reddick wants to transfer; what are the best potential spots for a pass rusher?

How do you remember the Haason Reddick era for the New York Jets?

The Jets completed a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for Reddick on April 1. Reddick wanted a better contract, held firm and requested a trade on Monday. Hopefully you didn’t buy that authentic Reddick Jets jersey.

If the Jets trade Reddick, almost every team would have to take a look at him. There are two players with double-digit sacks in each of the last four seasons: Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns and Reddick. Every team in the NFL would love to add another pass rusher right before the season starts.

Virtually every team (including the Jets, who insist they won’t trade Reddick) could use Reddick. But where are the best spots for the veteran pass rusher?

The Falcons haven’t had a top pass rusher in years, and instead of taking a shot in the first round of the NFL Draft, they selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons have a lot of momentum coming off the offseason, but they still need help with their pass rush.

Reddick would give the pass rush instant credibility. For a team favored to win the NFC South, it would be a huge addition right before the season starts.

The Bears acquired one pass rusher last season when they traded Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. When Sweat arrived, the Bears defense was immediately improved. The only problem this offseason was that the Bears did not acquire a bookend pass rusher to help Sweat avoid double teams.

The Bears would be much more dangerous along the defensive line with Reddick. They have the salary cap space for him. The question would be trading future draft capital for a 29-year-old player while the Bears are still building, but it would be a nice match.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon knows Reddick from his time as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, and the Cardinals need help on defense. They have little talent on that side of the ball, though some young players flashed on their line in the preseason opener. They’re another team that might not be wise to trade draft picks while they rebuild, but Reddick would immediately become the Cardinals’ top defensive lineman. Plus, he’s familiar with the franchise, having been a first-round pick out of Arizona and played there from 2017-2020.

Much of the Dolphins’ defensive success has been due to the health of Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb following season-ending injuries. Acquiring Reddick would help alleviate that pressure. Losing Shaq Barrett to a sudden retirement early in camp didn’t help matters. The Dolphins aren’t afraid to trade established players, which is how they landed Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey. The Dolphins narrowly missed out on an AFC East championship last season and may have scratched the win-now itch.

Philadelphia Eagles

Okay, that’s not going to happen. But face it: It would be incredible if the Eagles paid pennies on the dollar to get Reddick back in a trade.

Why not? The Chiefs are the epitome of a win-now team; winning a third consecutive Super Bowl would make history. The Chiefs defense is very good and has a solid up front, but who wouldn’t want to add a player who’s coming off an 11-sack season? The Chiefs might not be able to pull it off due to Reddick’s contract wishes, but it’s a fun scenario to think about.