Kevin Pierre-Louis is officially a free agent.
The Jets decided to not pick up the linebacker’s $2 million option Tuesday, freeing up $2 million in cap space. Pierre-Louis is now on the open market after just one season in New York.
The 27-year-old inside linebacker is a former fourth-round pick out of Boston College. Pierre-Louis was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and after two seasons was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for D.J. Alexander.
Pierre-Louis recorded 41 tackles with the Chiefs and was a standout special teams player. He played out the rest of his four-year deal and signed with the Jets last offseason.
Pierre-Louis signed a two-year contract with the Jets to be a depth piece behind Darron Lee and Avery Williamson at inside linebacker, but also to be a contributor on special teams. Pierre-Louis was suspended for the first game of the season for violating the NFL’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
As a key special teams player, Pierre-Louis saw action in nine games, adding seven tackles, a combined sack and a blocked punt on the season. He was placed on injured reserve after a shoulder injury kept him out for multiple weeks.
The Jets decided on Tuesday that they would rather have the $2 million in cap space and find someone cheaper to contribute on special teams, as Brant Boyer has done an excellent job of developing players.
Rather than finish out the final year of his contract with the Jets, Pierre-Louis will look for a new home in free agency.
