Haason Reddick: Under The Radar
June 9th, 2025
Will he get eight?
It’s very easy to go under the radar when you are not seen or heard. You know, out of sight out of mind?
Well, that’s the way Garrett Podell of CBS sees it with Bucs free agent edge rusher Haason Reddick.
Perhaps no Bucs official or member of the Fourth Estate has seen Reddick after he signed his contract and spoke to the local pen and mic club this spring; he’s been training away from One Buc Palace.
Reddick was not obligated to be at OTAs. Tomorrow at minicamp, he’s supposed to be there. It’s mandatory.
And yes, Joe knows Reddick is not the lone veteran to have missed some OTA practices. But the difference between Reddick and others (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield) is that those players are returning stars, guys who have been with the Bucs since they were drafted.
Reddick is brand new to the team.
As a result of being fully out of the spotlight, Podell is of the mind Reddick could surprise folks as being an under-the-radar player.
Edge rusher Haason Reddick was one of the NFL’s top sack artists from 2020 to 2023: his 50.5 sacks were the fourth-most in the league in that span. However, a contract dispute with the Philadelphia Eagles that turned into a trade to the New York Jets last season derailed Reddick’s production. His holdout led to him not making his Jets debut in 2024 until Week 8, and he only registered one sack in New York’s final 10 games of the season. That chipped away at the 30-year-old’s ability to command a multiyear deal in free agency this offseason, which is why he settled for a one-year, $14 million deal with $12 million fully guaranteed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s certainly a chance Reddick could return to stardom with a regular offseason in Tampa Bay this year.
As long as any dude who blows off voluntary OTAs produces, OTAs don’t mean jack. If a guy doesn’t produce, blowing off OTAs will follow him around like a cloud that never goes away.
Joe would absolutely be over the moon if Reddick can get double-digit sacks. Shoot, Joe would be content with eight. The Bucs haven’t had eight sacks (from anyone, forget an edge rusher) since 2021 when Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett had 10.
How friggin’ sad is that?
June 9th, 2025 at 12:22 am
Bold prediction: we will see 25-30 sacks outta Kancey, Reddick and Diaby. 2 of them reaching double digits.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:31 am
I am predicting an under 100 sacks season.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:08 am
It was reported that he HAS been around advent health training center this offseason since his signing. I couldn’t find anymore details but it was implied that he’s been meeting with Foote and getting acquainted with the defense. This article contradicts the reporting. Was it untrue that he’s been around the facility? I thought this was a big nothing burger story. But if it’s true that he only showed up one day to sign his contract. hasn’t been back and has had no contact with his coaches it’s a bit concerning. Not huge unless he doesn’t show for mandatory OTAs later this month.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:09 am
Way to go out on the limb!
June 9th, 2025 at 1:43 am
Walker will be good for 5 sacks minimum
June 9th, 2025 at 2:23 am
For most veterans voluntary ota’s mean nothing he has the playbook. Even Aaron Rodgers is taking his time signing. He’s a veteran Bowles can’t surprise him
June 9th, 2025 at 3:34 am
Very productive synergy is better and more affordable than an individual extreme performance.
Six to ten sacks each for the starting front five for around 40, and another 15 from the backups, ILBs and DBs would be a good result.
June 9th, 2025 at 4:40 am
Under the radar? Wow now that’s some spinmeister stuff right there.
Go Bucs!
June 9th, 2025 at 5:30 am
He has his own training program but the reason he should have gone to OTA’s is because he’s brand new to the team and it’s important to build camaraderie with his new teammates and get used to the play book and coaches so he knows what they expect from him. I personally don’t think he’s going to have a lot of sacks. I think he is going to be a decoy and open lanes for our other guys.
June 9th, 2025 at 6:04 am
A Team Guy shows up to OTA’s as a new player. Not being there makes a statement, and not a good one. Whether it has a bearing on anything else remains to be seen.
June 9th, 2025 at 6:08 am
Love the wording in Podell’s analysis that Reddick ‘settled’ for a 1-year $14 mil deal. Why haven’t options like that ever fallen in my lap? Heck I’d be willing to ‘settle’ for considerably less. I’m sure that I’d have to since last year I got 1 less sack than Haason did.
I really don’t have any expectations of what he’ll produce in this defense this year though. Are the Bucs gonna use him primarily when Vea & Kancey are on the field to maximize the potential of Reddick facing 1 v 1 blocking? Or is he gonna be another JPP who never comes off the field? In previous years I noticed that he’s been on the field A BUNCH (800-850 def snaps per season average looks about right). Prior to 2024 he only missed ONE game in those 7 years; that’s exceptional availability for an OLB in my book.
Maybe the bigger question is ‘If he has a very productive year, will the Bucs be willing to pony up the really big bucks to keep him?’
June 9th, 2025 at 6:11 am
He is a confident man. Confident enough to say no to OTAS.
That’s a leader. Give 100% if what you owe and keep 100% of your own time.