Muhammad Wilkerson is on his way to the Green Bay Packers.
The veteran defensive linemen has agreed to terms on a deal to join the team once the new league year begins, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Wilkerson spent the first seven years of his career with the New York Jets.
The Packers agree to terms with Mo Wilkerson, a source said. https://t.co/BuV0bZKDD7
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 14, 2018
Report: Green Bay Packers Agree to Terms With Muhammad Wilkerson
Wilkerson was released from the Jets prior to the beginning of free agency. Wilkerson has remained a solid contributor in recent years, but the Jets didn’t feel his play justified his salary. However, solid interior defensive linemen are in short supply in todays NFL, and Wilkerson can still be a solid role player.
Wilkerson first came into the NFL in 2011 as a first round pick of the Jets. The defensive tackle out of Temple quickly established himself as one of the best in the league at generating pressure from the interior. Wilkerson recorded five or more sacks in four straight seasons, including two seasons in which he reached double digits.
The best season of Wilkerson’s career came in 2015, the final year of his rookie contract. Wilkerson finished his 2015 season with 15 sacks and a combined 64 tackles. The New York Jets defense finished top 10 in most major categories, and Wilkerson’s performance was a big reason for that. The Jets went 10-6, and New York rewarded their defensive tackle with a five-year, $86 million dollar deal.
Unfortunately for Wilkerson, his career has gone downhill since his big payday. The longtime Jet recorded just eight sacks in the past two seasons, and he struggled to consistently generate pressure. His play against the run dipped as well, and suddenly the Jets found themselves paying a league average starter a superstars salary.
