New York Jets start contract talks with Muhammad Wilkerson

By Cory Buck | Feb 18, 2015

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) laughs on the sideline during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Jets are reportedly scheduling talks to discuss a contract extension with defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson.

With gobs of cap space and a young roster at hand, the New York Jets are doing everything they can to make sure they’re built up for the future. That means securing the best of their homegrown talent for the long haul. They’re reportedly starting in the middle, with defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson one year away from seeing his rookie contract expire.

Jets GM Mike Maccagnan scheduled to meet w/ Mo Wilkerson's agent at combine. Wilkerson entering final yr of deal, due for big pay day. #nyj
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) February 17, 2015

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Starting with Wilkerson is a no-brainer given that the Jets are still a talented club on defense and their head coach, Todd Bowles, has a defensive background. Wilkerson has 24 sacks in four seasons in which he has grown into one of the great disruptive forces in the league. He had a career-high 10.5 sacks, which is extremely high for a guy playing in the middle of the line.

Perhaps even more impressive were Wilkerson’s numbers from last season, a lost one by all measures for the Jets. Wilkerson had a career high 11 stuffs for 23 lost yards. He missed the first three games of his NFL career in 2014, but gave the team no other concern that he can’t handle the rigors of a long, fruitful career.

While Wilkerson has been solid, it’s hard to tell how high his contract demands will take him. Would he command a top-end salary similar to the one given to Gerald McCoy by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? That deal pays roughly $13-$15 million annually. Would he be more in line with the Geno Atkins deal via the Cincinnati Bengals? That one pays closer to $10 million each year.

The answer is likely somewhere in the middle and that might be thanks more to team circumstances than it is Wilkerson’s performance. With the Jets a veritable tire fire in 2014, it may be hard to properly evaluate Wilkerson and give him proper credit for his contributions.

These sticking points could make talks hairy, which is why it’s smart that management is taking a proactive stance on Wilkerson’s contract. If they can get an extension done now, they can move forward with a clearer salary cap situation and priorities that are focused on keeping their very best players on the roster while looking to the future for further improvement.

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