NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi

The NY Jets have made their first restricted free-agent decision of the offseason reportedly opting to non-tender the contract of linebacker Harvey Langi.

Langi is one of four Jets players set to be restricted free agents this offseason along with running back Josh Adams, outside linebacker Frankie Luvu, and wide receiver Vyncint Smith. But at least one of those players likely won’t be coming back now.

As reported by The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, the Jets will not be tendering Langi’s contract and it’s expected that he will have multiple suitors on the open market.

Langi has spent the last three years with the Jets and even started nine games over the last two seasons while serving as a core special-teamer. However, the Jets clearly decided they could do better.

The NY Jets won’t be bringing back Harvey Langi

Langi originally signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. The former BYU standout played in just one game in his rookie season before being released the following summer.

He signed on to the Jets’ practice squad in October of 2018 which is where he would spend the remainder of the year. And in 2019, he finally received a chance to make an impact on the active roster.

Langi played in all 16 games in 2019 even starting three after a slew of injuries at linebacker. This was also when he made the transition from outside linebacker/stand-up pass-rusher to more of an off-ball linebacker role.

He began the 2020 season as one of the Jets’ top backup linebackers and went on to start six of the 14 games he played, once again filling in for injuries down the stretch.

The 28-year-old finished with a career-high 60 tackles, but while he filled up the stat sheet, his play was hardly inspiring. Langi finished with an absolutely abysmal Pro Football Focus grade of 34.9 which ranked 79th out of only 83 qualified linebackers.

His 29.7 run-defense grade was 90th out of 93 qualifiers while his coverage grade of 44.0 ranked 62nd out of 75 qualifiers. By all measures, he was one of the worst linebackers to receive any significant playing time in 2020.

Langi is a high-effort, versatile player who fills a valuable role on special teams. For that reason, he should receive some interest in free agency.

But the Jets clearly had no desire to keep him on the roster as they look to reshape their linebacker corps in the offseason.

Harvey Langi’s time with the Jets has likely come to an end.