Jets want two 1st rounders for Muhammad Wilkerson

Reports of a potential Muhammad Wilkerson trade infer that the New York Jets want two first-round picks for the impact defensive lineman.

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Though of course the New York Jets were taking the player who presented the most value for them, and was the best player available on their board, but Leonard Williams going sixth overall to the Jets was a bit surprising.

Williams was, according to some analysts, the best player in the draft. However exaggerated that statement was (very), it was the opinion of some. But if there were one team in the top-six who clearly did not need help along the defensive line, it was the Jets.

They figured to be in greater need of Kevin White–the super agile and fast, yet big-bodied receiver who can catch everything–or Vic Beasley–the actual best player in the draft to rush the passer.

Nonetheless they took Williams and the rest is history. Except it now has them extending feelers further out than in the past (like this past week) about possibly trading Muhammad Wilkerson–the 6’4″, 315 lbs. monster who was drafted 30th overall in 2011 out of Temple.

Wilkerson has been a 2nd team All-Pro once, in 2013, and been on two Pro Football Focus All-Pro teams as well. He is universally throughout the league thought of as a dominant run defender, and even an able sack machine–he has 24.5 in his career in four seasons despite playing in a 3-4 defense which deemphasizes pressure from the front three down lineman.

And that’s the bad news for the Jets. He’s really good. Normally that would be good news, but not for a Jets team which significantly overspent to add three corners this offseason, most notably Darrelle Revis.

The Jets exercised their 2015 fifth-year option on his contract a year ago, guaranteeing he’d be a Jet this upcoming season–which they wanted when they drafted him in 2011 in the first-round.

But that option year pays him $6.97 million, according to Spotrac. He’ll likely command much more than that per year on his new long-term deal. Hence the desire for the Jets to trade him now to get maximum value for him.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora says he’s heard the Jets are asking for two first-round picks. That seems steep for anyone, especially a non-quarterback. Historically, the most a non-elite franchise quarterback commands is a second-round pick.

Time will tell. La Canfora is a solid writer, but like anyone else often reports false information. It’s hard to imagine that the Jets are crazy enough to think they’re getting two first-round picks back for a defensive lineman, especially when they have no leverage (as in they lose him after this year if they get nothing for him).

If the Jets do get anywhere near two first-round picks for Wilkerson it’s a steal and new general manager Mike Maccagnan should be crowned something. Knight? Sir? Something.

Next: 15 biggest busts in NFL Draft history

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