The New York Jets are not about to let their best defensive lineman get away without getting something back in return. On Monday, NFL Media’s Albert Breer, reported that the Jets placed their franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson, according to his source.
By the Jets placing their tag on Wilkerson, it gives the team until July 15th to try an reach an agreement on a new contract with the Pro Bowl defensive lineman. Otherwise their best defensive player will be forced to sit out, or sign his one-year franchise tender and play the 2016 NFL season under the tag for $15.7 million.
With the Jets tagging Wilkerson, it leaves the team with roughly $6 million in cap space. The Jets however, are expected to make several more moves to free up cap space before March 9th, when free agency begins. This means it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to resign all their free agents, which include quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and nose tackle Damon Harrison. The Jets general manager, Mike Maccagnan, said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the teams goal was to try and resign both of those players.
The Jets could look into trading Wilkerson to free up cap space, but finding a team willing to meet the Jets asking price, as well as Wilkerson’s, could be extremely difficult. The Jets would certainly asked for a first-round draft pick in return with Wilkerson seeking over $40 million in guaranteed money. The last time the Jets did a tag-and-trade it was with John Abraham nearly ten years ago.
Wilkerson, 26, is coming off what many believe was his best season as a member of the New York Jets in which he recorded 12 sacks while remaining one of the top defensive lineman against the run. He was selected in the first-round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Jets and he currently ranks No. 3 on Around The NFL’s Top 99 Free Agents list. Many in league consider him to be the second-best 3-4 defensive end in the NFL behind J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans. He’s also been a second-team All-Pro twice and was recently named to his his first Pro Bowl in 2015.
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