Should I Delay Graduation?

I am a recently unmatched Ortho applicant. I am trying to decide if I should extend my graduation another year so I can beef up my CV and reapply as a senior again. I plan on doing a research year during this time to do try to increase my chances of matching again.

My main question is: will it look bad to PDs if I reapply as a senior? I'm worried it will be a red flag for me to do another year when I don't really need it academically. On the other side, will PDs completely disregard my application if I am applying as a graduate instead of a senior? If that happens, is it a waste of time to do a research year if it won't actually help my application?

I have heard mixed things about this. Any advice would be incredibly helpful. Please help me out.

Definitely delay graduation. It will allow you many benefits

1. Applying as a US Senior = higher chance of matching
2. Applying as someone who has done research
3. Most importantly - it will allow you to do away rotations again because you can't really do those as a US grad.

It is a 'red flag' because you didnt match, but as long as you kill your aways and publish 10 papers during the year, no one will be able to say you didnt try hard. I know at least 3 people who didn't match, did a research year, did 3 more away rotations, and all 3 matched at one of their aways because of how hard they worked.