Veteran Canadian offensive lineman Duvernay-Tardif hits NFL free-agent market

For the primary time in his NFL profession, Canadian offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a free agent.

The six-foot-five, 321-pound Duvernay-Tardif hit the open market Wednesday afternoon as an unrestricted free agent with the beginning of the brand new NFL yr. It’s the primary time for the reason that native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., broke in with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2014 that Duvernay-Tardif hasn’t been underneath contract with a league membership.

“It’s extra a query of exploring totally different choices, type of seeing what’s the subsequent step for Laurent,” stated Sasha Ghavami, Duvernay-Tardif’s agent. “We’re not closing the door on something.”

And that features a return to the New York Jets, the staff Duvernay-Tardif completed final season with. Duvernay-Tardif, 31, began seven of his eight video games at proper guard for the Jets (4-13), who completed final within the AFC East.

Earlier this week, the Jets reportedly agreed to phrases with former San Francisco guard Laken Tomlinson on a three-year, US$40-million deal ($27 million assured).

“We’re not excluding a return to the Jets in any respect,” Ghavami stated. “Laurent had a good time with them.

“As I stated, it’s extra we’re simply exploring all of our choices.”

After opting out in 2020, Duvernay-Tardif returned to Kansas Metropolis final season anticipating to battle for his beginning proper guard spot. However he suffered a damaged hand throughout coaching camp that sidelined him for a month.

When Duvernay-Tardif returned, he was inactive as rookie Trey Smith, a 2021 sixth-round draft decide, had develop into the Chiefs’ beginning proper guard. In November, Duvernay-Tardif waived his no-trade clause, permitting Kansas Metropolis to deal him to the Jets.

At season’s finish, Duvernay-Tardif advised Canadian reporters he additionally had medical-school concerns to handle this winter. In 2018, he acquired his doctorate in medication and a grasp’s diploma in surgical procedure from McGill College and Duvernay-Tardif stated medical graduates often had 4 years to start out their residency.

Given he graduated in Could 2018, that deadline was quick approaching.

Duvernay-Tardif was already in medical college when Kansas Metropolis took him within the sixth spherical of the ’14 NFL draft out of McGill. He initially performed soccer through the NFL season, then spent his low season persevering with his medical research.

Ghavami stated Duvernay-Tardif can proceed along with his professional soccer profession with out impacting his medical research.

“He’s ready to do this,” he stated. “So it permits us to discover the market, discover free company and type of have a look at what are the choices on the market.”

Duvernay-Tardif began 57-of-60 profession video games with Kansas Metropolis. He made his first NFL begin in 2015 and helped the Chiefs earn a 31-20 Tremendous Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020.

Duvernay-Tardif grew to become the primary NFL participant to choose out of the 2020 season. He left soccer to battle the COVID-19 pandemic working at a long-term care facility in Montreal.

Duvernay-Tardif was widely known for his resolution to place his soccer profession on maintain. He was a co-recipient of the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s prime athlete and named ESPN’s Muhammad Ali Sports activities Humanitarian of the Yr in addition to considered one of Sports activities Illustrated’s 2020 Sportspersons of the yr.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 16, 2022.