The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed edge rusher Haason Reddick to a one-year deal worth $14 million, signaling their optimism about his potential to enhance their defensive lineup. Reddick’s contract Reddick moved from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New York Jets in a trade last offseason. After a disastrous year with the Jets, including historic coaching miscues and his own personal holdout, Johnson arrived in Detroit.
Reddick’s journey really began his rookie year when he was drafted by the Jets. The situation turned out very differently before he ever stepped foot on campus. A day before his debut, the Jets’ front office shocked the football world by firing head coach Robert Saleh. Now, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is tasked with navigating all of that — coaching and scheming. This sudden policy shift moved the goalposts and created a perfect storm.
Adding an additional wrinkle to Reddick’s case, he missed all of mandatory minicamp, training camp, and the preseason with a holdout. He cast himself into the 2024 season right away. With little-to-no ramp-up time, he was unable to gain his footing in the new system.
Reddick had developed an outstanding resume. He posted four straight seasons of double-digit sacks and led the league with 16 sacks in 2022. Unfortunately, his experience with the Jets didn’t give him the opportunity to fully display his talent.
The Buccaneers have been as obvious with their defensive intentions as they could possibly be. The team has not had a player crack 10-plus sacks since 2021. That’s when Shaquil Barrett hit the mark. They’ve added Reddick to rejuvenate their outside pass rush. With his talent, they intend to provide vital mentorship to their dozen of still-formative players.
Jason Licht, the Buccaneers’ general manager, expressed confidence in Reddick’s ability to contribute significantly to the team’s defensive efforts.
“He’s got a lot to prove; he’s very hungry.” – Jason Licht
Licht noted that Reddick’s eagerness to help develop younger players on the team was a crucial factor in their decision to sign him.
“He’s really excited to help the young guys.” – Jason Licht
Reddick can’t wait to get to work with the Buccaneers. In the piece, he makes clear the value of feeling desired and being on a team that has the same goals as you.
“Being somewhere that felt like home, being somewhere where I knew I would be wanted — that was big to me, and I didn’t feel like there was any other team out there that had what I was looking for compared to here.” – Haason Reddick
Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers’ head coach, acknowledged Reddick’s struggles with the Jets but is hopeful that he will find success in Tampa Bay.
“He never got his footing and he never got down.” – Todd Bowles
Reddick’s addition to the Buccaneers’ roster doesn’t change what they hope to do in next week’s draft. They obviously want to be in the market for one more, to continue to make their defense that much more dangerous. Licht was clear to point out that given Reddick’s signing it doesn’t mean they are done chasing talent.
The Buccaneers have developed a reputation as a team willing to take care of guys who have productive seasons on one-year contracts. That creates some powerful motivation for Reddick as he looks to ramp up his production. In the past, he mainly just rushed from the left side of the defense. Either way, he keeps his options open and remains willing to work and play on both sides.
As the Buccaneers prepare for the upcoming season, they view Reddick as a vital asset who can help mentor younger talent while enhancing their pass rush capabilities. This is a particularly interesting aspect of the team’s dire desire to improve on defense. They’re hoping the combination of Reddick’s motivation and experience helps a ton in that area.
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