The Jets waited until Aug. 1 to find a starting center, and they came through with a major signing.
The team announced Thursday that it has signed five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil. He will have to pass a physical before the deal can be completed.
The 34-year-old center decided to call it quits after 12 seasons with the Carolina Panthers. But according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kalil and general manager Joe Douglas have been in constant communication for about seven weeks. Ultimately, the Jets convinced him to play another year.
It took an $8.4 million offer from Douglas to get Kalil to suit up in 2019, per Rapoport.
New York was planning to go with Jonotthan Harrison as its starting center and seemed confident in his abilities, at least publicly. But after a week of training camp, the Jets obviously are not liking what they see out of Harrison and pounced at the opportunity to sign Kalil.
Kalil went to USC in the mid-2000s and is a huge fan of quarterback Sam Darnold. That played a factor in Kalil coming out of retirement, per The Athletic’s Connor Hughes.
Kalil, who has started 145 out of 148 career games, will join Kelvin Beachum, Kelechi Osemele, Brian Winters and Brandon Shell on the offensive line. If all five can stay healthy, this line has a lot of potential to be successful and should be one that Darnold and Le’Veon Bell thrive behind.
