The open of the Jets season is just a few days away, and we will finally have some actual football to dissect. Until then, we’re still talking about off-field stories surrounding the team.
The real preparation for the 49ers begins with Thursday’s practice, when the team really shifts into regular-season mode. With that shift upon us, I thought it would be a good time to look at a few of the big stories around the team this week.
1. The biggest story at the moment is the holdout of pass rusher Haason Reddick. I have been asked a lot how I think this will end, and I truly don’t know. I will say it does not feel like it is ending in time for Reddick to play Monday night. For him to play, I think he would have to be at practice Thursday, and that is not happening unless he suddenly has a change of heart.
It feels like both sides are really dug in. The Jets refuse to negotiate until Reddick shows up, and Reddick refuses to show up until he gets a new contract. Someone is going to have to blink.
At the moment, I don’t think Reddick has much leverage. His absence will not wreck the defense — they still have plenty of good players. Now, if they fail to get pressure on Brock Purdy and the QB has a monster game, Reddick suddenly gets momentum come Tuesday morning. The coaches and front office will be restless, and maybe Reddick can get the Jets to the negotiating table.
Reddick has shown a willingness to rack up fines to the tune of more than $2 million in training camp. Now, he will be missing game checks, which will be about $800,000 per week. That is going to add up quickly. How long can he stomach that?
This is an interesting mess the Jets find themselves in. I think their defense is fine without Reddick … for now. But if they are going to get to where they are gunning for — playing playoff games in January and into February, they’ll need Reddick. Picture the Jets playing at Arrowhead Stadium in January with Reddick and without. Which one looks a whole lot better?
2. The Jets gave nickel cornerback Michael Carter II a three-year, $30.75 million contract extension Tuesday. You won’t find anyone around the team who is not happy for Carter. He has been one of the most reliable players on the defense in his three years with the team and one of the most well-liked players in the locker room.
This is the first Joe Douglas draft pick to get a multi-year extension from the Jets. You can make an argument he is the best Douglas draft pick. Douglas hit home runs with his 2022 draft class, but that was with four high draft picks. Carter was a fifth-round selection out of Duke. He is the kind of third-day gem the Jets have failed to find in recent years.
It is easy to overlook Carter on the star-studded defense, but this contract shows how much the organization appreciates him.
3. Speaking of cornerback contracts, the Broncos handed Pat Surtain a four-year, $96 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Sauce Gardner may be the next in line for that title. Gardner is eligible for an extension after this season, his third. He surely will be looking to be the top-paid cornerback, and Surtain’s $24 million per year salary is now the baseline for the Gardner contract talks. The Jets would be wise to lock up Gardner as soon as they can before the price goes up again. Barring a dramatic regression this season, Gardner has proven he is one of, if not, the best cornerbacks in football.
4. The Jets announced their captains Tuesday. The one who caught my attention was Quinnen Williams. The selection by his teammates shows Williams is coming into his own as a leader. Williams has led by example for years but has been quieter in the locker room. Last season, you could see Williams taking a more vocal role and that is continuing. He sets the tone for the defense, and his teammates recognized that with this honor.
