Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson isn’t going to be allowed to hit the free market. The New York Jets are reportedly set to use the franchise tag, as Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
Source confirms Jets are using franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson, as @KimJonesSports reported. $15.7 million #Nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) February 29, 2016
The $15.7 million price tag is hefty, indeed. Spotrac has the Jets at approximately $21.6 million over the cap. If a long-term deal isn’t worked out between the franchise and Wilkerson, then his salary will weigh heavily on the team’s ability to make moves elsewhere.
This is especially true when you consider Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams will be due for extensions of their own in the next couple of years. Both are high-end players at the same position, meaning the Jets will likely have to let one of them leave for free agency at that time.
New York will certainly make other roster moves in the meantime to clear up cap space, but it’s important to remember Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t be cheap, either.
This all speaks to the immense value the Jets are placing on Wilkerson, who would be the biggest free agent of them all if the team had let him hit the open market. He is recovering from a season-ending injury but should be ready to roll come training camp. Before getting injured he racked up 64 tackles and an astounding 12 sacks.
It’s in the interest of both parties that Wilkerson sign a long-term deal before the deadline. It would give Wilkerson more long-term financial stability and it would give the Jets more cap space. It won’t be cheap, though. Wilkerson’s deal would likely come close to what Ndamukong Suh signed up for last year in Miami — a six-year deal worth $114 million.