Jonotthan Harrison was never supposed to be a starting offensive lineman for the Jets, but he’s been forced into action a lot over the past two seasons because of injuries and bad blocking.

Now, as Harrison enters the final year of the two-year, $5 million contract he signed in 2018, the Jets have an important decision to make regarding the future of the 28-year-old. If the Jets keep Harrison he will count $2.25 million against the cap in 2020. If the Jets cut him, they’ll save $2 million.

Joe Douglas needs cap space to remake the Jets roster, and the money saved from cutting Harrison could be used to fortify other areas if the Jets go heavy on offensive linemen in the draft or free agency. Harrison is a solid contributor on the offensive line, though, and can start in a pinch. There are obvious benefits to both scenarios, but it will be on Douglas to decide the outcome.

Pros to keeping him

There aren’t many backup offensive linemen like Harrison capable of starting in a pinch at multiple positions. He’s played guard and center throughout his six-year career, including 18 starts in the past 32 games at center for the Jets. Harrison provides continuity as a role player for Adam Gase, Sam Darnold and the rest of the Jets offense and is a solid safety net for multiple positions on the offensive line.

Harrison is also cheap, for all intents and purposes. His cap hit ranks 16th on the Jets roster and he’ll only count 1.06 percent against the salary cap. Harrison is by no means a bonafide starter, but the Jets had enough initial faith in him to not break the bank in free agency or draft a center before Douglas coaxed Ryan Kalil out of retirement. When the Kalil experiment failed, Harrison stepped up and the line actually performed better with him at center. 

Pros of cutting him

This one is simple. The Jets need to find their future center – either in free agency or the draft. Harrison can’t be that future, even at his price point. There are much better centers in the free agency and in the draft and that’s where the Jets should look to build their line. 

Yes, Harrison is a solid and versatile backup. But the Jets cannot afford to be paying him $2 million when there are so many other positions that could use that money for backup players. Harrison, while solid when called upon, didn’t have a great 2019 season, either. He finished with a 51.4 Pro Football Focus grade, which only put him in the top-40 at the center position.

The verdict

Considering how much the coaching staff and players like his work ethic, it wouldn’t be surprising if Douglas held onto Harrison as a contingency plan at center again. If he chooses to cut some other players for cap relief, Harrison’s roster spot will probably be safer given his rapport with Darnold and the rest of the team.

However, if Douglas ends up keeping certain players that would otherwise save the Jets money and builds a plan to find a suitable starting center and cheaper backup, the Jets should move on from Harrison. He’s simply too expensive of a backup with money that could be used at other positions of need like cornerback, pass rusher or wide receiver.