The New York Jets are the epitome of a team in win-now mode. The retirement of D’Brickashaw Ferguson is indicative of that fact. The age of stars Darrelle Revis, David Harris, and Brandon Marshall also bolster the argument for that notion.
The Jets came face to face with the harsh reality of the NFL salary cap in the off-season. The loss of star defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the New York Giants was a big blow. They have also been unable to re-sign two of the most important pieces to their 10-win 2015 campaign. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson have yet to agree to long-term deals with the Jets. Both players had largely successful 2015 seasons. Ryan Fitzpatrick came away with the Jets single-season record for touchdown passes. Wilkerson was effective enough to have been given the franchise tag designation before he hit free agency. It is clear who must take immediate precedent over the other in attempts to reach a contract.
The New York Jets Must Make Ryan Fitzpatrick the Priority
The most basic, albeit compelling, argument for prioritizing Fitzpatrick is the fact that no position is more important on the field than quarterback. It is very rare to see a team excel without an effective quarterback. Fitzpatrick was more than effective, passing for a franchise-record 31 touchdowns in his 2015 campaign. This sort of production is something the Jets haven’t seen on a consistent basis since Broadway Joe Namath. It is unlikely the Jets will get such production with any longevity or consistency, but only need to see one or two more years given the aging talent they are presented with.
Muhammad Wilkerson had a similarly impactful 2015 campaign, racking up a team leading 12.0 sacks. His play was good enough for him to be given the franchise tag designation over fellow defensive lineman Damon Harrison. Unfortunately for the Jets, Wilkerson also recognizes his high level of play. He is likely seeking a huge long-term deal which the Jets simply cannot afford at the moment.
Money
This leads into the next major factor of deciding who to retain: money. The Jets currently have $3 million in cap space. Wilkerson playing under the franchise tag gives the Jets more time to relieve some of the cap pressure they are faced with. However, this action would not protect Wilkerson from a career-ending injury in the same way guaranteed money from a long-term contract would. Wilkerson has solidified himself as one of the best all-around defensive linemen in the NFL. This will likely cause him to look at the deal of a similar player to set his own standards. That player would almost certainly be Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, who plays a similar style of versatile defensive line work. Cox recently received a six-year extension with Philadelphia. It contains an average annual salary of about $17 million and $63,299,000 in guarenteed money. Wilkerson’s 12 sacks bested Cox’s 9.5 and he will likely look for an average annual salary beyond that of Cox’s monstrous deal.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, has reportedly been asking for somewhere in the area of $16-$18 million in annual salary. This would put the two players’ requested values at similar price points. It would be foolish for the Jets to pay a defensive end the same amount it would cost to retain one of the most productive quarterbacks in franchise history. Wilkerson’s youth certainly plays to his benefit. However, his status on a team in win-now mode would likely trump all desires to retain him over Fitzpatrick. In terms of deciding who to sign to a guaranteed contract, the choice is clear for the New York Jets.
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