NY Jets: Will the Jets re-sign or decline Ryan Kalil?

The NY Jets will have some difficult decisions to make this offseason. However, the one regarding center Ryan Kalil should be among their easiest.

The NY Jets will take a good, hard look at their long list of unrestricted free agents this offseason and determine which players they will want to bring back. Their decision with Ryan Kalil, however, shouldn’t be a difficult one.

Kalil was coaxed out of retirement by general manager Joe Douglas after the former Philadelphia Eagles executive recognized the team’s hole at center. It was a bold move and one that was praised at the time.

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Unfortunately, it became clear early on that the five-time Pro Bowler was a shell of his former self.

Kalil was brought in late and never meshed well with his teammates after missing the majority of training camp. As a result, the 34-year-old struggled immensely finishing with a very poor 55.5 Pro Football Focus grade which ranked among the worst centers in the league.

He would wind up playing in only seven games before finding himself on the injured reserve following a knee injury. And if we’re all being honest, it was likely in the best interest of both parties involved.

Now a free agent again, Kalil is likely faced with a more difficult decision than the Jets are as the Carolina Panthers legend once again contemplates retirement.

Should the Jets re-sign him?

This will be short.

Kalil was an absolutely disastrous signing for Joe Douglas and will be 35-years-old next season. His replacement Jonotthan Harrison is younger, still under contract, and played better in his place last season.

There is little reason to consider re-signing Kalil and expect the team to have a new starter come Week 1.

Will the Jets re-sign him?

Once again, this isn’t a difficult question.

Douglas recognizes his mistake and it’ll be chalked up to a swing and a miss. It was a worthy gamble at the time and one that couldn’t really have been predicted in advance.

But now with a full offseason to make adjustments, expect Douglas to do what he can to find a more long-term solution at the position and not a 34-year-old who had to be persuaded out of retirement.

Ryan Kalil will not be back on the Jets in 2020. And that could be said with near 100 percent certainty.

Odds of re-signing: <1%