New York Jets should not retain Percy Harvin this offseason

The New York Jets have an interesting decision to make this offseason regarding what to do with wide receiver Percy Harvin. Acquired via trade this past season with the Seattle Seahawks, Harvin was brought in with high hopes of finally being the answer for the Jets at wide receiver. Needless to say, things didn’t quite work out as planned.

Dealing with injuries, Harvin nowhere near delivered in the magnitude that many thought he would upon his arrival with the Jets. He was average at best with just 29 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown. Hardly anything to go crazy over considering he missed a few games and didn’t do much either when it came to special teams returns. Harvin was considered to be a dual-threat option for the Jets able to fill both roles and was literally auditioning last season to earn his keep to be brought back in the future.

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Based on his lack of performance and the fact that he looks to be too injury-prone, it’s a no-brainer that the Jets shouldn’t retain Harvin this offseason. The Jets have until March 19th to decide what to do since it will determine what draft-pick compensation is headed to the Seahawks whether he is on the roster or not by that date. If the Jets keep him around, the Seahawks get a fourth-round draft pick, if not, it becomes a sixth-round choice.

Draft picks are huge these days as the Jets are in a rebuilding phase. With a whole new regime running the ship into a better direction, the general consensus by general manager Mike Maccagnan is to build through the draft and fill in a few pressing needs via free agency.

It makes no sense for them to keep Harvin around fully knowing he isn’t the player he once was and has been on the decline statistically for the past few years. There’s a big reason why the Seahawks parted ways with him not only due to his lack of production but also because of the potential of him continuing to be a locker room cancer.

Harvin is a “me” kind of athlete that if he doesn’t get his way, he will make sure his frustrations are known. Last season he filled the New York media waves with quotes of him finally being at peace and happy with a new team but I don’t buy it one bit. I honestly believe he was saying that to again, keep his job past last season. If he really felt that way, he would have proved it on the field since the majority of the time, he wasn’t the game-changing kind of receiver the Jets had hoped to land when they traded for him.

Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Percy Harvin (16) against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

It’s expected the Jets will most likely acquire a top wide receiver via free agency which would make the decision to part ways with Harvin that much easier.While I won’t hold my breath to the Jets landing someone big like Demaryius Thomas, I can see them landing someone like Jeremy Maclin or even Randall Cobb.

It’s no secret the Jets need someone to go alongside Eric Decker to help elevate his game so it makes sense to grab someone that can contribute big immediately. Especially since they have the finances to make a splashy move or two.

Overall, should the Jets part ways with Harvin, it has no complications in regards to any salary cap hit since his contract has no guaranteed money this year. Again, it just doesn’t make sense to keep a declining player who would not only cost the Jets a valuable fourth-round draft pick but possibly be a big headache down the road should he not get his way. It’s just best to part ways and head in a different direction.

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