The Jets are still exploring ways to beef up their offensive line.
The Daily News has learned that Gang Green has talked to Bears Pro Bowler Kyle Long about coming out of retirement.
The former Chicago first-rounder walked away from the game in January due to a litany of injuries, including a hip ailment that landed him on Injured Reserve last October. There’s a clear line of demarcation in Long’s seven-year career. He earned three Pro Bowl berths at two positions (right guard and right tackle) in his first three seasons before his body betrayed him in the next four.
Long, 31, spent time on I.R. every season from 2016-2019. He dealt with a torn labrum, strained triceps and right ankle injury in 2016. He had shoulder, ankle and finger injuries the following season. A foot injury cost him half of the 2018 campaign. Then, a hip injury held him to just four games (three at right guard, one at left guard) last season.
In all, Long missed 34 games in the past four seasons after playing in 47 of 48 games in his first three years in the league. He earned second-team All-Pro honors at right guard in 2017 before making the Pro Bowl at right tackle the following season.
Douglas has made it clear that his prime objective this offseason was to better protect Sam Darnold. The G.M. has also said publicly and privately that he wants to create as much competition along the line as possible. Gang Green might have as many as four new starters along the line this season, including first-round pick Mekhi Becton.
It’s unclear how much the Jets would have to pay Long, who restructured his contract last offseason.
His new truncated deal cleared cap space for the Bears and included a team option for 2020. Long tweeted “Bear for Life” after the revised contract.
He announced his retirement after the 2019 season. The Bears declined the option, which effectively made Long an unrestricted free agent.
How much would it cost to bring Long out of retirement if he has a desire to play again?
The Jets have about $25 million in salary cap space. However, a relatively limited cash pool has been the biggest challenge for Douglas, who attempted to work around the financial constraints from ownership this offseason by doling out a litany of low-cost one-year (or de facto one-year) deals in free agency.
There are a pair of relatively straightforward options to free up cash at this point. Cutting linebacker Avery Williamson would open up $6.5 million. Veteran right guard Brian Winters has a non-guaranteed $7 million base salary in the final year of his deal.
If Long un-retires, the Jets certainly hope it works out better than the failed Ryan Kalil Experiment last year. The 34-year-old former Panthers Pro Bowl center struggled after coming out of retirement. Kalil played just seven games and landed on season-ending Injured Reserve after signing a one-year, $8.4 million deal.
Long hinted this week that he might return by tweeting: “When you just got 6 (pack) abs and now you gotta gain again.”
