WATCH: Jets GM Joe Douglas coaxing Ryan Kalil out of retirement is symbolically fitting first splash
This couldn't be scripted any more perfectly. The first major signing of the Joe Douglas era with the Jets comes from his area of gridiron expertise: the offensive line.
In a move that sent shockwaves across the rest of the league, the Jets announced on Thursday that they've agreed to terms with five-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil. The contract is for one year and $8.4 million, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
No, you're not reading that wrong. This is indeed the same Ryan Kalil that announced his retirement in January after 12 seasons with the Panthers.
The new Jets GM coaxed Kalil out of retirement and now they have a major uptick in terms of experience at starting center. While the 27-year-old Jonotthan Harrison is more athletic at this point in his career, Kalil offers the kind of football IQ and savvy that will work wonders for second-year quarterback Sam Darnold.
Kalil was a second-round selection by the Panthers in the 2007 NFL Draft. The 34-year-old Kalil is a two-time first-team All-Pro that has started in 145 regular season contests for the Panthers.
This was a sage and proactive move by Douglas. The No. 1 priority for the Jets is to develop Darnold and the signing of Kalil boosts his protection. The message comes across loud and clear from Douglas that the Jets aren't going to sit idly when there's a roster need.
Kalil will be required to pass a physical before signing his contract with the Jets. Kalil missed eight games in 2016 due to shoulder surgery and was out for 10 games in 2017 because of a neck injury.
However, Kalil returned to play in all 16 games last season for the Panthers.
Kalil's recent injury history is a concern but this was a calculated risk worth taking by Douglas. Douglas is a former offensive lineman, so Kalil passing the GM's eye test should be encouraging for Jets fans.
Kudos to Douglas for working his persuasive powers. If Kalil stays healthy, he could be the x-factor that propels the Jets to offensive glory.
