kelly Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 The Jets' offseason is underway, and there are plenty of questions about how they plan to build on last season's promising debut for coach Todd Bowles. So let's answer some of those questions here in our weekly mailbag. ~ ~ @DarrylSlater Do you favor trading Wilkerson ? Figure a 1st and 3rd should be fair compensation. Jets get younger. Curious how you see it ? 11:50 AM - 13 Jan 2016 No. I think the Jets should do all they can to retain Muhammad Wilkerson, their star defensive end. He is 26 years old and coming off the best season (12 sacks) of his five-year career. If the Jets can't hammer out a long-term contract with him, then sure, a trade would make sense. But the Jets need to make a major effort to keep Wilkerson. Those potential draft picks you mention sound nice, but there's no telling if those players would pan out, since the draft is a crapshoot. The Jets know what they have in Wilkerson. He is an ascending, elite pass rusher. You don't let those guys go easily, especially since the Jets are trying to win now, in the next couple of years. They're not in rebuild mode. The cap is obviously the primary issue. The Jets want to retain quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. And if they pay him and Wilkerson, that might mean letting nose tackle Damon Harrison and their top two running backs (Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell) go, since there won't be enough cap space for everybody. How squeezed are the Jets with their 2016 cap? Well, based on a projection of a $150 million cap, the Jets currently have $11.3 million in 2016 room, according to overthecap.com. They can create $11.2 million more in space by cutting cornerback Antonio Cromartie ($8 million savings), tight end Jeff Cumberland ($1.9 million), and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley ($1.3 million). > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/01/mailbag_how_should_jets_address_issues_at_outside.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan wants to re-sign Muhammad Wilkerson and said the team would consider giving the Pro Bowl defensive end a one-year “franchise tag” deal that would pay him about $15 million.But Maccagnan, whose team went 10-6 in his first season, was vague about the details in his Thursday news conference to wrap up the 2015 season, saying that he didn’t want to tip off other franchises about the Jets’ plans. The general manager said he also wants to re-sign quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes. “We’d like very much to get him back, based on how he played this year,” Maccagnan said. “But I don’t really want to get into the speculation aspect of it.”Maccagnan said he thought it was possible to retain both Wilkerson and defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who is also set to become a free agent. That would keep intact an imposing defensive line that also includes Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams. Maccagnan said Wilkerson should recover from the broken leg suffered in the season finale against Buffalo in about six months and that the injury shouldn’t impact contract negotiations. The general manager said Wilkerson played well in 2015, but it was unclear whether the team would offer him a one-year franchise-tag deal or a long-term contract. “At the end of the day, yes, we would very much like to have Muhammad back in the organization,” Maccagnan said. “Now how we manage to do that, time will tell.” — —Stu Woo > http://www.wsj.com/articles/wilkerson-at-center-of-jets-busy-off-season-1452811403?tesla=y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 – Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan met the media Thursday with his ever-present cup of coffee at his side. Football seasons end, but java season apparently does not. It’s not surprising, considering Maccagnan’s work hasn’t stopped as he tries to help his team take the next step in 2016.Maccagnan’s free-agent spending spree and two shrewd trades resulted in a 10-6 record in 2015, but the Jets narrowly missed the playoffs. And there are plenty of decisions to make that likely will keep Maccagnan up at night, with or without caffeine. “I probably won’t catch my breath until after the draft,” Maccagnan said. Several important players will become free agents in March, including standout defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and resurgent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Both players had career years in 2015.Maccagnan said the Jets “absolutely” could use the franchise tag on one of their free agents, including Wilkerson, who had 12 sacks in 2015. He added the possibility of Wilkerson being franchised is “not a big secret.”The Jets have until March 7 to make that decision. If Wilkerson is franchised, he likely would make $15 million to $16 million in 2016, but the designation also would buy time for the Jets to try to reach a long-term deal with the Linden native. Wilkerson suffered a fractured right fibula in the season-ending loss at Buffalo on Jan. 3, but Maccagnan indicated he didn’t think the injury would impact the Jets’ decisions about him. Maccagnan said the injury should take about six months for Wilkerson to rehab and Maccagnan expects him to be ready for training camp in the summer. If not, it’s possible Wilkerson could be placed on the physically unable to perform list to begin camp, Maccagnan said.Maccagnan said, “We would very much like to have Muhammad back in the organization. How we manage to do that, time will tell.” Fitzpatrick had a franchise-record 31 TD passes and 15 interceptions in 2015.“We’d like very much to get him back, obviously based on how he played this year,” Maccagnan said. “But I don’t really want to get into the speculation aspect of it. I would simply leave it at — we’ll see how this thing works out.”Another key free agent is nose tackle Damon Harrison, who is considered one of the better run-stuffers in the NFL.“In a perfect world,” Maccagnan said, “we would like very much to have Damon back in the organization.”But can they keep two free-agent defensive linemen in the fold? “Hypothetically or philosophically, it’s not impossible,” Maccagnan said.If Fitzpatrick is re-signed, who will be the No. 2 quarterback? Bryce Petty, a fourth-round pick in 2015, and former starter Geno Smith are on the roster. Smith is heading into the final season of his four-year rookie deal.As for Smith, Maccagnan noted that he is “under contract,” and praised him for the way he handled the aftermath of the training-camp incident in which he had his jaw broken by then-teammate IK Enemkpali.“I think Geno played well in the limited amount of time he was in there,” Maccagnan said of Smith, who relieved an injured Fitzpatrick at Oakland on Nov. 1.As for Petty, the GM said he made “a lot of progress” in his rookie season and that the Jets are “very excited” to see how he will progress in the off-season. REVIS OUT OF PRO BOWL: CB Darrelle Revis will not play in the Pro Bowl. The Chargers announced that Jason Verrett, the first alternate, ll replace Revis in the All-Star game in Hawaii on Jan. 31. The Chargers’ news release said that Revis was “injured.”Revis reportedly bowed out because of soreness in his shoulder.The Jets had no comment on why Revis wouldn’t play, but it’s worth noting that he wasn’t on the injury report leading up to the season finale and that he played the entire game against the Bills. > http://www.northjersey.com/sports/jets-considering-franchise-tag-for-muhammad-wilkerson-1.1491899 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 WILKERSON ONE OF BEST FROM 2011 CLASS Mel Kiper Jr. was a fan of Muhammad Wilkerson's when the big man entered the 2011 draft. The Temple product has lived up to his potential and more since Day 1 with the Jets. Kiper: Ranking the 2011 class > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Welcome to February, the month that begins with a bang (the Super Bowl) and often ends with bloodshed (salary-cap casualties). This is a grueling month for teams because of the amount of planning involved. The pro personnel people prepare for free agency, stacking their boards, while the college scouts intensify their draft prep before heading off to the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, the general manager and other top decision-makers formulate the offseason plan of attack, determining which players to keep, which players to dump and how to make the team better. Important dates (and a little beyond), and how they pertain to the New York Jets : Feb. 8 -- The waiver period begins the day after the Super Bowl. Don't expect a flurry of action. Like most teams, the Jets don't like to make moves until they have to. Unless there's a contractual deadline with regard to a player -- a bonus due, a salary guarantee, etc. -- there's no need to start cutting players. Feb. 16 -- Teams are allowed to designate franchise or transition players. Obviously, the attention will be focused on Muhammad Wilkerson, a strong candidate for the franchise tag. Again, don't expect the Jets to rush into anything. The Jets have a two-week window before they have to exercise the tag. Feb. 23-29 -- The NFL world moves to Indianapolis for the combine. Aside from evaluating college players, this is a valuable time for team executives to huddle with agents of their own players, setting the groundwork for deals that will be finalized in the coming days. Only the naive believe illegal contact between teams and agents doesn't occur. March 1 -- The deadline for designating franchise and transition players is 4 p.m. If the Jets can't reach a long-term agreement with Wilkerson, they will franchise him with a one-year tender that could approach $16 million.A player given an "exclusive" tag, which is worth slightly more, can't negotiate with other teams. The Jets probably won't go this route with Wilkerson; it would eliminate the possibility of a sign-and-trade, an option they may want to explore. A player given the "non-exclusive" tag can deal with outside clubs, but if he's allowed to sign with a new team, his previous club is compensated with two first-round draft picks. Once the player signs his franchise tender, he can't negotiate with other clubs, but he has until July 15 to reach a long-term contract with his current team. If not, he must play the 2016 season under the tag amount. March 6-9 -- This is known as the "legal tampering" period. Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. A contract can't be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. on March 9. This is when the Jets will be racing against the clock to sign the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick andDamon Harrison, trying to keep them off the open market. March 9 -- The free-agent madness starts at 4 p.m. Trades also can become official. Teams also must be under the yet-to-be-determined salary cap, which is why so many players around the league will be released during the run-up to free agency. The Jets are projected to be about $14 million under the cap, give or take, meaning they'd probably have to clear room to accommodate a franchise tag for Wilkerson. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58241/setting-agenda-in-what-looms-as-key-month-for-jets-and-mo-wilkerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Muhammad Wilkerson is a free agent, which means the New York Jets have a decision to make. Undeniably the best player Gang Green has drafted since Darrelle Revis, New York will look to lock up the defensive end one way or another. The team could give Wilkerson, who suffered a broken leg in the last game of the season, a long-term extension, but the Jets could very well use the franchise tag too. Matt Claassen of Pro Football Focus certainly thinks that is the way to go. He writes : Wilkerson is a prime candidate for the franchise tag this offseason. He is recovering from a broken leg and it remains to be seen if (or how) that will affect his availability or level of play in 2016. With nose tackle Damon Harrison also set for free agency, it will be difficult to get both signed to new contracts. Harrison will likely come at a lesser cost, and therefore could be easier to keep. Re-signing both would be a massive amount of money to invest in the defensive line, with Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams also on the roster. The Jets are among a handful of teams with the least amount of current cap space. However, if they can free some money, it could be possible to re-sign Harrison and tag Wilkerson to keep both and readdress the situation in 2017. If they chose not to re-sign Harrison, the tag might still be on the table for Wilkerson to make sure he’s the same player after breaking his leg. Classen brings up some valid points. Wilkerson’s injury should not leave him with any lingering limitations, but a tag will let the Jets find out for sure before they make a long-term commitment. There is also the matter of money, which will be scarce in East Rutherford this offseason. The Jets have several notable free agents in addition to Wilkerson and Harrison – including Ryan Fitzpatrick and Chris Ivory – and will have to spend wisely. Hitting Wilkerson with the tag would certainly give them some flexibility. Wilkerson played in all 16 games for New York in 2015, starting 15 of them. He led a star-studded Jets defensive line with 12 sacks, a career-high. > http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/02/01/pff-says-jets-should-franchise-tag-muhammad-wilkerson/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 @domcosentino We are aware of decisions on Wilkerson, Fitz, Pace, and Cro, Ivory. Do you see any prominent cut or contract after them ? I'm not so sure all of the decisions on those players have been made. Also, anything can happen in negotiations. But outside linebacker Calvin Pace could (maybe) be brought back in some kind of backup role, and it's not a done deal that running back Chris Ivory is going to walk, even if it might be tough for the Jets to keep him. But quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to get re-signed, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is likely going to get the franchise tag, andcornerback Antonio Cromartie ($8 million in base pay) is probably going to get cut. Beyond that ? Inside linebacker Erin Henderson will be re-signed. Nose tackle Damon Harrison could stay or go. Wideout Jeremy Kerley ($1.3 million in cap savings) and tight end Jeff Cumberland ($1.9 million) could be cap casualties. A few other high-priced veterans (left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, center Nick Mangold, wide receiver Brandon Marshall) could get a restructure, if the Jets want to free up more money. Tough to say after that. Negotiations are tricky things to predict. rest of above article : > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/02/how_has_contract_market_for_jets_muhammad_wilkerso.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Franchise tag? They could fill 16 holes and find a QB by not doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 tag & trade.. him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 It is a common refrain from Jets fans. It is something I have said frequently myself over the last two years. "Muhammad Wilkerson is not worth JJ Watt money." Wilkerson certainly is not a player on Watt's level, but we have reached a point where comparing his contract with a potential new Wilkerson deal is not apples to apples. Watt received his 6 year, $100 million contract two years ago. It came between his third and fourth NFL seasons. It is important to note that it raised his salaries for his fourth and fifth seasons.In his fourth season, Watt was scheduled to make a base salary of $1.9 million. His new contract came with a $10 million signing bonus and a 2014 salary of around $900 thousand. So in real dollar terms, Watt came away with around $10.9 million in 2014. The new contract in effect raised his fourth year salary by $10 million. Had he not signed the new contract, Watt would have played out his fifth year in 2015 at a $6.9 million salary. His new contract came with a $9.9 million salary for 2015.This is important to note. The Texans were able to dangle a raise of $13 million over two years in front of Watt. In exchange, they might have been able to get concessions from Watt on the back end of the deal. The Jets did not do that with Wilkerson. Wilkerson got $1.4 million 2014 and $6.9 million in 2015. They don't have the same card to play. There are perfectly valid reasons the Jets conducted their business this way. Part of the advantage of the rookie contract is the ability to get star production at a deep discount. Because there was no deal worked out, though, the Jets cannot expect Wilkerson to grant them long-term flexibility because the team cannot offer him an immediate raise. This is something to keep in mind. Wilkerson isn't a Watt level player, but the timing of the respective contracts makes their expectations different. > http://www.ganggreennation.com/2016/2/10/10956444/new-york-jets-offseason-jj-watts-contract-isnt-a-reference-point-for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share Posted February 15, 2016 Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is a pending free agent, but not really. Yes, the 2015 season was the fifth and final year of Wilkerson's rookie contract. Yes, he is still seeking a long-term lucrative contract, and he has stated he wants to get that deal from the Jets, who drafted him.(Coming off an outstanding season, Wilkerson certainlydeserves big money.) The NFL's free agency period begins March 9, the first day of the new league year. But Wilkerson is unlikely to become a true unrestricted free agent on that day. Why ? Because the Jets are expected to apply the franchise tag to him — if they haven't locked him up with a contract before then. So what does this all mean ? Well, the first day a team can franchise tag a player is Tuesday. And the last day is March 1. So the Jets have a two-week window in which to tag Wilkerson. Basically, if the Jets and Wilkerson's agent, Chad Wiestling, can't work out a contract between now and 4 p.m. on March 1, the Jets will tag him.The franchise tag is essentially a one-year contract. For Wilkerson's position this year, the tag number could be about $16 million. There are two types of franchise tags — exclusive and non-exclusive. A player tagged exclusively (with a higher dollar figure) can't negotiate with other teams. But if the Jets want to tag and trade Wilkerson, they likely won't do this.Instead, they'll opt for a non-exclusive tag. That allows Wilkerson to negotiate with other clubs, but if he signs elsewhere, the Jets would get two first-round draft picks from that other organization — a high price to pay. And even if Wilkerson is non-exclusively tagged, the Jets would retain the right to match whatever offer he gets from another team. If the Jets don't match, they'll get those two first-round picks in return as Wilkerson leaves. That's the simple explanation for a somewhat complex process. The reality is, even a non-exclusive tag would significantly limit Wilkerson's ability to explore options elsewhere. Tagging Wilkerson is essentially a way for the Jets to retain his rights, and extend the contract negotiating window. If Wilkerson signs his franchise tag tender immediately — which he almost certainly would not do — then he can't negotiate with other teams. But signing the tag (or even not signing it) doesn't necessarily mean Wilkerson is locked in to that one-year, approximately $16 million contract for 2016. That's because there's a July 15 deadline — regardless of whether or not Wilkerson signs his tag tender — for the Jets to sign him to a long-term contract. If the Jets and Wilkerson aren't able to work out something by then, he would play 2016 under that one-year contract, with the tag figure. As was the case with Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant last summer, the tag and its July deadline provide not only a firm deadline for getting a long-term contract finalized, but also a line (the tag number) from which to start negotiations. Bryant wasn't the only tagged player to get a lucrative deal last summer with that July deadline looming. It also happened with Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston and Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. So while Wilkerson has already earned his pay day, it might be a while still before he cashes in. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/02/explaining_jets_options_for_muhammad_wilkersons_po.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcat Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Analyzing Jets' tag decision, and why it makes sense to keep Mo Wilkerson Feb 14, 2016 Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer Email print comment Tuesday is the first day teams are permitted to use the franchise or transition tag on a player. The deadline is March 1 (4 p.m. ET), creating a two-week window in which to negotiate a long-term contract. There might be some drama with other teams, but not the New York Jets, who plan to use the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. It has been moving in this direction for more than a year, as the two sides haven't come close to a new contract. What makes the Wilkerson situation interesting is what could happen after he receives the tag -- i.e. a possible trade. Our job is to explain it all to you. Q: Why tag Wilkerson? A: Let's speak the language of general manager Mike Maccagnan, who was an economics major in college. Wilkerson is a valuable asset, and the organization must protect that asset by making it almost impossible for Wilkerson to sign elsewhere. He'd draw more interest on the open market than the Jets' other top free agents, and they simply can't allow another team to sign him away. Q: How much will it cost? A: The amount still hasn't been announced by the league, but the projection for a defensive end is $15.5 million, based on a $154 million salary cap. That's assuming he receives the "non-exclusive" tag, which allows the player to negotiate with other teams. If the player signs an offer sheet with another team, the tagging team has five days to match. If it declines, it receives two first-round draft picks as compensation. In the unlikely event he gets the "exclusive" tag, which costs a little more, he wouldn't be permitted to talk to other teams. Q: Can the Jets afford the franchise tag? A: Well, not exactly. Right now, they figure to be approximately $14 million under the cap, so they'll have to create additional room by releasing a player (or players) and/or re-working a contract or two. But, remember, there's a two-week window, so there's no sense of urgency to dump salary. Q: When was the last time the Jets used the franchise tag? A: It was only two years ago. What, you already forgot about Nick Folk? The veteran kicker was coming off a terrific year, and the Jets didn't want to risk losing him. The strategy worked. A couple of weeks later, they locked him up with a four-year, $12 million contract. Q: Could the Wilkerson situation be wrapped up that quickly? A: Don't bet on it. The two sides have been talking on and off since 2014, when John Idzik was the GM, but it doesn't seem like they've made much progress. Wilkerson, 26, is one of the top defensive linemen in the league, and he wants a contract that puts him near the top of the salary structure. From all indications, he's looking for something in the Marcell Dareus neighborhood -- six years, $95 million. That contract included $42.9 million guaranteed at signing and a total of $60 million in guarantees. Q: Is a tag-and-trade a possibility? A: League insiders believe the Jets will be willing to listen to offers for Wilkerson, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Don't forget, they shopped him during last year's draft. A tag-and-trade is hard to pull off because it requires a team willing to meet the player's contract demands and surrender significant compensation to the tagging team. It'll be particularly tough this year because the draft is deep with defensive linemen. The Oakland Raiders, who have a ton of cap room, might be willing to talk trade, CBS Sports has reported. They own the 14th pick, which could tempt the Jets. Q: Is it a good idea to trade Wilkerson? A: No, it's not. The Jets should be collecting good players, not pushing them out the door. Yes, they have a lot of money tied up in the defensive line -- the number will grow if they re-sign Damon Harrison -- but Wilkerson was their best defensive player. The current narrative that last year's pass rush wasn't good enough, and that Wilkerson should be dealt for a pass-rushing linebacker, is a bunch of hooey. The Jets' four-man rush was fourth in pressure percentage and sixth in sack percentage, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The objective should be to sign their leading pass-rusher, not get rid of him. Q: How will this drama play out? A: By rule, the sides have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term agreement. If they don't, Wilkerson will play the 2016 season for the amount of the franchise tag -- which is our prediction. Five players got the franchise tag last year -- Dez Bryant, Stephen Gostkowski, Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul and Demaryius Thomas. JPP was the only one who didn't land a long-term deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Report: Jets plan to use franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson Tuesday is the first day that teams can apply the franchise tag on impending free agents, which means the Jets will have to make a decision about defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.While quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is also headed for free agency, the feeling is that the Jets can work out a longer deal with Fitzpatrick. That hasn’t been the case with Wilkerson, who spent time last offseason angling for a new contract and hasn’t agreed to a deal with the Jets in the ensuing months. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports that things haven’t moved any closer to a resolution on the long-term contract front and that the Jets plan to use their tag on Wilkerson. That would cost more than $15 million in salary for the 2016 season if Wilkerson winds up playing out the year under the tag and the two sides would have until the middle of July to talk about a long-term deal.The Jets could also trade Wilkerson over that period, something that could be of interest if they decide they want to re-sign defensive tackle Damon Harrison to go with Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams up front on defense. > http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/15/report-jets-plan-to-use-franchise-tag-on-muhammad-wilkerson/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 As you know by now, the Jets likely will apply the franchise tag to defensive endMuhammad Wilkerson (a Linden native) sometime before the March 1 deadline. But might the Jets pull off a tag-and-trade deal, and send Wilkerson elsewhere? Could the Jets possibly execute a Wilkerson trade with the Giants ? I discussed that scenario via email with one of our Giants beat reporters, James Kratch. Here's how our conversationwent down: Darryl Slater: So, James, what do you think about this chatter — despite no official/formal news reports yet — regarding a tag-and-trade between the Jets and Giants for Muhammad Wilkerson? James Kratch: Hey, Darryl. Yeah, it is a heck of an idea, isn't it? The Giants and Jets, coming together for a blockbuster trade involving a star defensive lineman with local roots that would seemingly address big needs for both teams — a pass rusher for the Giants, a high draft pick for the Jets to potentially go after a quarterback while keeping their No. 20 pick.That being said, I'm not buying it for a few reasons. The main one being: Do you really think the Jets want to let Wilkerson go? And to the Giants, no less? Slater: This is one that would fry the phone lines at WFAN if it happened. From a public relations standpoint, it wouldn't look good for the Jets to trade Wilkerson to the Giants. That's for sure. But the teams rarely play, so from a more pragmatic, on-field standpoint, that's not really a huge thing.The bigger issue is this: Wilkerson is a fantastic player, a blossoming star pass rusher, and the Jets should do everything they can to sign him. Players like him are so valuable in today's NFL. Yes, the Jets would have to make salary cap sacrifices that could result in running back Chris Ivory and nose tackle Damon Harrison leaving in free agency. But Wilkerson is worth it, especially since it's still not totally clear what kind of pass rusher Leonard Williams will develop into. Plus, the Jets don't need a quarterback badly enough (and there are no sure-thing quarterbacks in this draft) that they ought to trade away Wilkerson to get that No. 10 pick. This draft is deep with defensive linemen, though. The Giants could keep the 10th pick and draft a pass rusher there, right? I get that the draft is a crapshoot, and Wilkerson is proven, but what about this option for the Giants? Kratch: The one scenario where I could see this making sense for the Giants would be if there was some sort of run on defensive linemen above them, and the Giants are dead set on getting a pass rusher with the No. 10 pick. If they are approaching their pick and guys like Joey Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Shaq Lawson are all gone, perhaps trading the pick for Wilkerson would make more sense than potentially reaching for a guy like Emmanuel Ogbah or Sheldon Rankins. But assuming that will not be the case, I would not trade for Wilkerson. He's a star, no doubt. But while the Giants have a tremendous amount of cap space, they also have a lot of needs to address. Tying up a lot of money in Wilkerson, and not having a top 10 pick as a result, might not be the best approach to fix the pass rush. If I were general manager Jerry Reese, I would rather use the pick to land a player I think could be a Pro Bowl-caliber player like Wilkerson for years to come.And, are we sure the Jets would trade Wilkerson for the No. 10 pick straight up? If I'm Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, I want a little bit more in return for Wilkerson. The Giants already don't have a seventh round pick this year due to the Brad Wing trade, and let's be honest: They need every draft pick they can get to rebuild this roster. They can't be sending a No. 1 and a No. 3 to the Jets, or next year's No. 2. And the Giants really do not have any standout assets on the 53-man roster to trade, either. Slater: Good point. Along those lines, if the Jets want to move up for a quarterback, there's a chance Jared Goff and Carson Wentz — the top two quarterbacks available this year — will both be gone before No. 10. So that might impact the Jets' willingness to trade up, in this hypothetical scenario.You're right: Wilkerson wants a big contract, and he deserves it. His franchise tag figure alone likely will be a $15.4 million salary cap hit. As you mentioned, that's a significant commitment to one player. Oh, I'm pretty sure Maccagnan would want more than just a straight-up trade for Wilkerson. The Giants would need to throw in another pick, either in 2016 or 2017. The Jets probably would want that No. 10 overall pick this year, and the Giants' second-round pick in 2017. But it seems unlikely Reese would want to ship that much value to the Jets, as you said.The Jets need major help at outside linebacker/edge rusher, and it's a laughable notion that the Giants would be able to trade the Jets anybody of value at that spot, right? Kratch: The Giants certainly don't want to be trading more picks, and they don't have any players that fit that bill. There's no way they would ever entertain trading a player like linebacker Devon Kennard, and he's the only player that comes to mind.Bottom line, this is a sexy hypothetical that kills the dull downtime between the Super Bowl and the combine. But I would be stunned if anything ever comes from this chatter. Slater: Yeah, we're on the same page here, though I suppose this chatter beats passing that downtime by paying attention to presidential primaries nonsense. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/02/would_jets_giants_pull_off_tag-and-trade_involving.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson, a pending free agent likely to receive the franchise tag, tweeted an update on his surgically repaired broken leg. Wilkerson said he was examined today in North Carolina by Dr. Robert Anderson, adding his "leg responded (great), starting rehab ahead of schedule. Anxious to get to work." Wilkerson had surgery Jan. 5 for a broken fibula. No doubt, his message was designed, in part, for potential suitors. Share 19h > http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 The perfect plan for the New York Giants to help stem their malaise after years of hit-and-miss personnel decisions? One name. Two spellings. Two players. Muhammad Wilkerson. Mohamed Sanu. The Giants might not land either. And Wilkerson most likely will only be available via trade after getting hit with the franchise tag by the Jets. But these two names have generated a fair amount of buzz within the organization, sources said, as the franchise prepares for an offseason in which it aims to be active at the deep end of the free-agent pool.Both rank among a small number of players viewed in the most favorable terms by the team's brass. Both would fill immediate needs, and both already have very strong ties to the greater New Jersey area and grew up Giants fans. They are prime targets, make no mistake, though their acumen among a widely suspect and pedestrian free-agent class makes them top candidates for numerous teams beyond Big Blue. If the Giants were able to land them, coupled with some lesser signings and an astute draft class, it might go a long way to getting the team back atop the standings of the mundane NFC East in Ben McAdoo's rookie season. The Giants have ample cap room, they have money to spend, and ownership is committed to ending this non-playoff funk and re-establishing the team as an NFC contender. While this franchise is never going to run around like crazy setting the market at multiple positions and there will always be a measure of calculated restraint to their machinations, the import of this offseason is lost on no one. They need multiple impact players on both sides of the ball. The defense in particular is lacking in an identity, as well as blue chip players. Focusing the rebuild around Wilkerson makes tremendous sense and it's a strategy the team's brass has long been mulling. First off, Wilkerson very well might be the best potential free agent in the NFL, regardless of position. An astute Sports Illustrated list recently placed him tops overall -- ahead of evenVon Miller -- and few players are as impactful and dynamic and versatile as Wilkerson. He can dominate lined up over the center and he can dominate lined up over a tackle and he could probably be moved around to outside linebacker as well and play without his hand in the ground. He is a freak of nature, the closest facsimile to a J.J. Watt as there is in this league and he's just turned 26. He merits Ndamukong Suh-type consideration and compensation and if he were able to hit the open market he just might push that $60 million guaranteed threshold.But the Jets are far too smart to let that happen. The Jets have to franchise Wilkerson and they will franchise Wilkerson, but then things could get interesting. With Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams still very young and in the fold, the Jets already have substantial resources tied up in their defensive line and they have many other issues -- no capable quarterback currently under contract, for example -- and Wilkerson would fetch, I imagine, at least a first-round pick in return and perhaps much more. Teams are generally reluctant to not only give up multiple high picks and then also pay a free agent top dollar, though Wilkerson may be an exception and while the Giants in particular would be judicious in that regard, and landing Wilkerson may prove to be remote, it is by no means out of the question. Particularly, if they could land Wilkerson for a first-round pick, there still could be considerable value in making that play. How many first-round picks in this upcoming draft will be more impactful than Wilkerson over, say, the next three years? And, more to the point, how many of those handful of truly breakout first-round picks would be doing so at a position of acute need for the New York Giants in the manner in which Wilkerson would? And given how up-and-down the nature of the draft is on the whole, would it really be that big of a gamble to put those resources into someone like Wilkerson, who could reshape the Giants defense, at a significantly higher compensate rate, than it would rolling the dice on the 10th overall pick? Turning that asset into something of a can't-miss proposition may be the best play for recently-embattled general manager Jerry Reese, who enters this season under extreme scrutiny. As to what type of contract makes sense for Wilkerson, well, I'd look first and foremost at what the Bills gave Marcell Dareus prior to the season. It's worth noting that was with a year still remaining on Dareus' contract, whereas Wilkerson has already played out his rookie deal including a fifth-year option.As noted, Wilkerson is a handful lined up inside and is more versatile than Dareus and hasn't had the weight red flags and the off-field red flags that Dareus has carried. And Dareus received a $25M signing bonus while still a year from hitting the market and $43M fully guaranteed at the time of signing and a $60M injury guarantee and a deal that averages $16M a year. The Bills, frankly, got throttled in the negation by the agent of Dareus, Todd France, but that's not Wilkerson's problem. I'd say he is the better player and he has competed in the same division against the same offenses and Wilkerson has 6.5 more sacks since 2011, when both were first-round picks. Wilkerson he has 31 stuffs to just 11.5 for Dareus, with nine forced fumbles to two. That the Jets have never put anything on the table in the remote vicinity to what Dareus makes and while that could change, conceivably, in the coming weeks, the end-game here could result in a tag-and-trade, in which case I would add the Raiders and Browns as strong potential suitors, and I wouldn't entirely rule out even a team like the Patriots sniffing around on potential compensation for the defensive lineman. As for the Giants, there are so few real difference-makers among the potential free agents, and there is such a lack of pass rush available that their interest in Wilkerson is a no brainer. There is such a need along their front seven for more brawn and skill. We'll see to what extremes they are willing to go to make it happen.There are a multitude of other potential options at the receiver position, where the Giants are prioritizing finding a Robin to go with their Batman (Odell Beckham, Jr.), but few fit the bill as well as Sanu. The Bengals, his current employers, have never made a real concerted effort to retain him and they have a slew of potential free agents to sort through themselves as they try to keep their many starters who are set to hit the market (including Marvin Jones, another receiver of theirs who will do quite well in free agency himself). But withVictor Cruz's career in jeopardy and the Giants needing a presence in the slot and on the outside, Sanu ranks high for them. Sanu thrived as the top guy for the Bengals a few years back when A.J. Green missed a chunk of time. He would already fit in the offense the Giants run and while he will hardly be the only receiver they reach out to as soon as NFL rules allow, he will be someone very much on their radar. Adding Sanu at say, $5M a year, to compliment OBJ would help further open up an offense that, let's face it, even with Wilkerson anchoring on the other side of the ball is going to need plenty of scoring support to make the team competitive while the defense is being reconstructed. Regardless, expect the Giants to be shopping in some free-agent aisles in which they might not normally peruse. They will be pushing hard to improve their roster in March as well as the draft and they'll be among the more active teams squeezing the oranges and trying to weed out the lemons and if they get their way, there well could be a couple of Mos who end up in their cart. > http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25486367/why-mo-money-in-free-agency-is-the-solution-to-giants-major-problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard King Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Chris Long is available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 Here's a look at some of the top rumors for Thursday, Feb. 25 : As one of the top pending free agents, New York Jets defensive endMuhammad Wilkerson is almost a sure thing to receive the franchise tag, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll remain in New York in 2016. As ESPN's Rich Cimini detailed on Wednesday, GM Mike Maccagnan's suggestion that the team could franchise tag Damon Harrison instead doesn't really hold water, as it's probably just a negotiating ploy. So the tag will almost certainly go to Wilkerson, but it remains to be seen if the Jets are willing to invest enough in the defensive line to bring back both players. That's why Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News believes it's "likely" that Wilkerson will be shopped in a potential tag-and-trade leading up to the draft. Cimini hears the Jets haven't closed the door on that option, but adds that a trade would be a mistake unless the Jets are "blown away with an offer." Some have suggested it would be better to shop Sheldon Richardson instead, but given his previous legal issues, he wouldn't command as big of a return as Wilkerson. Additionally, Richardson still has two cost-controlled seasons remaining on his rookie deal, so the savings realized by trading him wouldn't be as significant as offloading Wilkerson, who will probably seek a nine-figure deal. As good as Wilkerson is, the Jets might find that no other team values his services as highly as they do -- which is the reason NFL trades rarely happen in the first place. Between that and Harrison's pending free agency, Gang Green still has plenty to settle up front, but don't close the door on both players returning just yet. rest of above article : > http://espn.go.com/blog/nfl/rumors/post/_/id/29678/nfl-rumors-roundup-207 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesr Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I'm not an advocate of trading Mo at all - but if we did, would Jacksonville perhaps be a destination? They're desperate for defensive talent, but won't want to just go via the draft alone, as they could do with help both right now and in future. And they have so much cap room they don't know what to do with it. So getting a contract done would likely not be an issue. Sticking point would likely be compensation. No way do they trade their #5 pick, but what if it was their 2nd this year and a 1st next year (playing on that "unknown quantity" variable)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section314 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 On 2/20/2016 at 7:08 PM, Lizard King said: Chris Long is available Better player, but 3-4 older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 The New York Jets are expected to use the franchise tag on defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, especially if the two sides are unable to gain considerable ground on a new contract before next Tuesday’s deadline.According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Wilkerson is headed for the franchise tag unless he”suddenly lowers his asking price or the team magically changes its stance on his valuation.” Mehta also believes the Jets will shop Wilkerson once he’s given the tagA first-round pick of the Jets in 2012, Wilkerson led the team with 12 sacks last season. However, he broke his leg in the season finale, leaving New York in a difficult position for negotiating a long-term deal. General manager Mike Maccagnan—who said back in January that the tag was “absolutely” an option for Wilkerson—is clearly leaning one way.“We have an idea internally what we’re probably or potentially going to do,” Maccagnan said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. “But at this point in time, we don’t really want to show our cards.” The tag for defensive lineman is expected to be at least $15 million. The Jets have until March 1 to apply it. Giving Wilkerson the tag would give both sides until July to work out a new deal or trade.It’s possible the Jets could find a strong trade market, even with the tag in play. Still only 26, Wilkerson is one of the more disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL. His skill set would be coveted by every team with the cap room to negotiate a long-term deal. One thing has become crystal clear: The Jets will control where Wilkerson goes. He is headed for franchise tag—and a potential trade—if a new deal isn’t worked out in the next few days. > http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/jets_all_but_guaranteed_to_use_franchise_tag_on_muhammad_wilkerson/s1_12740_20386783 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 — The NFL's 2016 franchise tag numbers are out. The Jets are likely to tag defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson sometime before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline.There's a (remote) chancethey opt to tag nose tackle Damon Harrison instead. Teams can use the franchise tag on just one player per season. Here's a full explanation of Wilkerson's tag situation, and what it means. In short, the position-by-position tag numbers below are what a team would have to pay a player (and absorb as a salary cap hit) for 2016, if both sides can't agree on a long-term contract by the July 15 deadline to do so. If a guy plays under the tag number for 2016, he is essentially on a one-year contract. He then has an opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent again next offseason. Here are the 2016 franchise tag numbers: Quarterback: $19.953 million Running back: $11.789 million Wide receiver: $14.599 million Tight end: $9.118 million Offensive line: $13.706 million Defensive end: $15.701 million (Wilkerson) Defensive tackle: $13.651 million (Harrison) Linebacker: $14.129 million Cornerback: $13.952 million Safety: $10.806 million Kicker/punter: $4.572 million > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/02/heres_exactly_how_much_it_would_cost_jets_to_franc.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 This comes as no surprise, but we can now confirm what had been expected for weeks: The Jets will use the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. The Jets have until Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline to use the tag on Wilkerson, and they are going to do it, though nothing official has been announced yet. Teams can use the franchise tag on just one player per year.The tag will prevent Wilkerson from becoming an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 9. Tagging Wilkerson essentially lets the Jets retain his rights while continuing to negotiate a long-term contract with his agent, Chad Wiestling.NFL Media's Kimberly Jones was first to report that the Jets will tag Wilkerson.The franchise tag numbers are out, and the defensive end tag is worth $15.701 million. This now becomes a negotiating line for Wilkerson's contract talks. The Jets and Wilkerson have until July 15 to iron out a long-term deal. If the sides can't agree on a contract by that deadline, Wilkerson would play on a one-year contract for the tag number in 2016.There is also the possibility the Jets could tag and trade Wilkerson. Presuming Wilkerson receives the non-exclusive tag, he can still negotiate with other teams, but the Jets would retain the right to match whatever offer he gets. If Wilkerson signs elsewhere, the Jets would get two first-round draft picks from that organization — a high price to pay for Wilkerson's services. If Wilkerson signs his franchise tag tender immediately — which he almost certainly would not do — then he can't negotiate with other teams.Here's more on what Wilkerson's tag situation means for him and the Jets, as his long-expected tagging has now become (all but) official. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/02/jets_will_indeed_use_franchise_tag_on_mo_wilkerson.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdetroit Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 On February 26, 2016 at 7:48 AM, jamesr said: I'm not an advocate of trading Mo at all - but if we did, would Jacksonville perhaps be a destination? They're desperate for defensive talent, but won't want to just go via the draft alone, as they could do with help both right now and in future. And they have so much cap room they don't know what to do with it. So getting a contract done would likely not be an issue. Sticking point would likely be compensation. No way do they trade their #5 pick, but what if it was their 2nd this year and a 1st next year (playing on that "unknown quantity" variable)? Wilk and the 20 pick for the 5 pick It's our only shot at getting Wentz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 As of Monday afternoon, the New York Jets hadn't announced their intentions for the franchise tag (they have until 4 p.m. Tuesday), but they've decided to use it on Pro Bowl defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, a league source said. A few takeaways : 1. It was the right decision. It was the only decision. 2. Wilkerson won't be happy -- he'll probably skip the offseason conditioning program again -- but he knew this was coming. The two sides have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term deal. Failing that, he'll make $15.7 million in 2016. But ... 3. The franchise tag doesn't tie Wilkerson to the Jets for the 2016 season. I believe they will explore the possibility of a tag-and-trade, looking to see if they can find a deal that would justify trading their top defensive player in 2015. Good luck with that. Even though he's one of the top free agents, it'll be hard to find a team willing to meet his asking price (figure north of $40 million in guarantees) and compensate the Jets with an attractive pick and/or players. The bigger question is ... 4. Why even consider a tag-and-trade? Well, the team has cap issues and moving Wilkerson would free up the $15.7 million. They already have a lot of resources invested in the defensive line, and they'll have to pour more into it to retain Damon Harrison, a pending free agent. In my opinion, it would be an ill-advised decision to trade Wilkerson. He's only 26, one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL. The idea is to keep good players, not send them packing. 5. The player most affected is Harrison. Barring a contract extension, Big Snacks will be permitted to negotiate with other teams, starting Monday, during the NFL's "legal tampering" period for free agents. The prospect of that happening can't be a good feeling for the Jets, who very much want to retain their big man in the middle. General manager Mike Maccagnan floated the possibility last week of using the tag on Harrison, but that was just a negotiating ploy to create the illusion of leverage. Privately, Maccagnan had been telling people for months the plan was to tag Wilkerson. Now his job is to make sure he doesn't lose Harrison, who would have many suitors on the open market. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58679/jets-decision-to-tag-muhammad-wilkerson-could-have-serious-fallout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesr Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 18 hours ago, drdetroit said: Wilk and the 20 pick for the 5 pick It's our only shot at getting Wentz Only if Wentz is there at #5 and Jax are on the clock. I don't see him still being around, to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 NFL rumors : What trade value does Muhammad Wilkerson have for Jets ? Now that it's confirmed the Jets will be doing what everyone expected them to do by franchising defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, the next issue on their docket is whether they'll try to trade him. The tag sets Wilkerson's 2016 salary at $15.7 million, which also becomes the baseline for negotiations toward a long-term deal, which carries a deadline of July 15.But because the Jets have a surplus of talent along the defensive line, trading Wilkerson may be the best way for them to use those assets to their advantage. The real question is whether they can find a suitable partner willing to negotiate a suitable price. Wilkerson could be in line for a contract worth $40 million or more in guaranteed money. The Jets have plenty of roster holes to fill—edge rusher, offensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback, running back, quarterback—and only so much money to go around because of the salary cap.But what might a trade bring in return? That would depend on the kind of value the Jets and any potential trading partner(s) have placed on Wilkerson, and how much wiggle room there might be once both parties get to talking. Retired general manager Bill Polian, a Hall of Famer who now works as an analyst for ESPN, said the Jets would likely try to set the market to see which teams might be potential suitors."It's really a two-way street," Polian told NJ Advance Media in an interview last week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "You look at his measurables, and you look at his body of work, you'd have to say you're talking about a No. 1 draft choice. So you start there."Understand: This would be a negotiation. The Jets would likely start by asking for more than they're likely to receive, with the understanding that they'll likely get a counteroffer that's less than what they're hoping for. The bargaining would then proceed from there, with both sides doing all they can to leverage each other down. Polian said it wouldn't be inconceivable for the Jets to ask for as much as two first-round picks at the beginning of any talks, just to gauge other teams' level of interest. That price is obviously prohibitive, but it would also be just an entry point.The Raiders, for one, have an estimated $70 million in cap space—and a lot of spending to do to reach the cash spending floor mandated by the league's collective bargaining agreement. They might be willing to do a deal for Wilkerson.But there are some mitigating factors as far as any potential return for the Jets. For one, a trading partner will likely want to sign Wilkerson for the long haul—"You wouldn't give anything for a rental, or nothing valuable anyway, let's put it that way," Polian said—and because of that the Jets might have to expect less in terms of possible compensation. It works to the Jets' advantage that quality defensive linemen in the prime of their careers can be in short supply. But there's also a lot of defensive line talent in this year's draft. And then where does the possible trading partner have a pick in the draft? Depending on whether it's a high choice or a pick at the end of the first round would also impact how much of a sweetener is involved."[A lot] depends on the individual evaluation of the acquiring team, and then it depends on how much they have to pay [Wilkerson] to get him into a long-term contract," Polian said. "And those are factors that we can't know." > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/03/nfl_rumors_what_is_muhammad_wilkerson_worth_in_a_t.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section314 Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 12 minutes ago, kelly said: NFL rumors : What trade value does Muhammad Wilkerson have for Jets ? Now that it's confirmed the Jets will be doing what everyone expected them to do by franchising defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, the next issue on their docket is whether they'll try to trade him. The tag sets Wilkerson's 2016 salary at $15.7 million, which also becomes the baseline for negotiations toward a long-term deal, which carries a deadline of July 15.But because the Jets have a surplus of talent along the defensive line, trading Wilkerson may be the best way for them to use those assets to their advantage. The real question is whether they can find a suitable partner willing to negotiate a suitable price. Wilkerson could be in line for a contract worth $40 million or more in guaranteed money. The Jets have plenty of roster holes to fill—edge rusher, offensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback, running back, quarterback—and only so much money to go around because of the salary cap.But what might a trade bring in return? That would depend on the kind of value the Jets and any potential trading partner(s) have placed on Wilkerson, and how much wiggle room there might be once both parties get to talking. Retired general manager Bill Polian, a Hall of Famer who now works as an analyst for ESPN, said the Jets would likely try to set the market to see which teams might be potential suitors."It's really a two-way street," Polian told NJ Advance Media in an interview last week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "You look at his measurables, and you look at his body of work, you'd have to say you're talking about a No. 1 draft choice. So you start there."Understand: This would be a negotiation. The Jets would likely start by asking for more than they're likely to receive, with the understanding that they'll likely get a counteroffer that's less than what they're hoping for. The bargaining would then proceed from there, with both sides doing all they can to leverage each other down. Polian said it wouldn't be inconceivable for the Jets to ask for as much as two first-round picks at the beginning of any talks, just to gauge other teams' level of interest. That price is obviously prohibitive, but it would also be just an entry point.The Raiders, for one, have an estimated $70 million in cap space—and a lot of spending to do to reach the cash spending floor mandated by the league's collective bargaining agreement. They might be willing to do a deal for Wilkerson.But there are some mitigating factors as far as any potential return for the Jets. For one, a trading partner will likely want to sign Wilkerson for the long haul—"You wouldn't give anything for a rental, or nothing valuable anyway, let's put it that way," Polian said—and because of that the Jets might have to expect less in terms of possible compensation. It works to the Jets' advantage that quality defensive linemen in the prime of their careers can be in short supply. But there's also a lot of defensive line talent in this year's draft. And then where does the possible trading partner have a pick in the draft? Depending on whether it's a high choice or a pick at the end of the first round would also impact how much of a sweetener is involved."[A lot] depends on the individual evaluation of the acquiring team, and then it depends on how much they have to pay [Wilkerson] to get him into a long-term contract," Polian said. "And those are factors that we can't know." > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/03/nfl_rumors_what_is_muhammad_wilkerson_worth_in_a_t.html#incart_river_index Possible partners....Bears, Redskins, Seahawks and Cardinals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 Charley Casserly: 'Doubtful' Jets can trade Muhammad Wilkerson The Jets have slapped the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and might be pursuing a trade for him, but ex-NFL general manager Charley Casserly thinks a deal will be difficult to pull off : Charley Casserly ✔@CharleyCasserly Hard for #Jets to trade Wilkerson/Due to # of gd DL in Draft & contract along with draft picks makes it doubtful trade happens@nflnetwork (Casserly had been a consultant during the process that led the Jets to hire general manager Mike Maccagnan 14 months ago. It's hard to tell if Casserly is basing this assessment on any inside knowledge, or if he's just shooting from the hip.)Hall of Fame former general manager Bill Polian made a point similar to Casserly's in a recent interview with NJ Advance Media. But Polian had said the draft's D-line depth and Wilkerson's desire for a lucrative long-term deal would simply be mitigating factors, and not necessarily deal-killers. Whether Casserly is proved correct ultimately comes down to what value the Jets have placed on Wilkerson, and on their floor for what they're willing to accept in a trade.The same goes for any potential trading partner. One team may indeed be less likely to do a deal because of the circumstances Casserly described. But another team might prefer to take a run at Wilkerson because of where that team is picking in the draft. And all of that is impossible to gauge at this point. It's also all part of what gets bandied about during negotiations. If the Jets are to pull something off, we'll find out about it soon enough. > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/03/charley_casserly_doubtful_jets_can_trade_muhammad.html#incart_river_index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share Posted March 5, 2016 Crazy talk, right? Insane? The Jets, who haven’t exactly ‘dominated’ the draft over the past decade, would be nuts to trade one of their best young players in Muhammad Wilkerson? Right? Actually… no. And the team has GM Mike Maccagnan to thank for that The Jets have a star wide receiver and another very good one across from him. The secondary had an incredible turnaround after a dramatic makeover in 2015, with Calvin Pryor looking like a future star. The quarterback of the team, who is expected to be back on an extension shortly, is coming off a season where he threw 31 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, nearly 4,000 yards with an 88.0 quarterback rating. Sure, Ryan Fitzpatrick is a career journeyman, but he is capable of winning games, alongside Chan Gailey, with a good supporting cast.With that being said, there are glaring holes. The offensive line is aging (and more importantly declining) at the tackle positions. The linebacker corps could be thin with departures of the underwhelming Demario Davis and longtime, solid edge setter Calvin Pace. There is no “proven” running back currently signed for 2016 besides Zac Stacy. Then their is the defensive line. Star-studded with Wilkerson locked in on the franchise tag, along with former defensive rookie of the year Sheldon Richardson, and 2015 sixth-overall pick Leonard Williams. The unit is so deep that when fully healthy Richardson played significant snaps at outside linebacker in 2015 just to get on the field.A dominant three-tech at outside linebacker. Yes, Richardson has his fair share of off-field problems, but he is a star from the three technique alignment on the defensive line. A star that proved to beunblockable at times vs. both the pass and run. Richardson and Williams combined are set to account for about $9 million dollars on the cap. Both should be starting, alongside pending free agent nose tackle Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison.After a Fitzpatrick extension, the Jets won’t have the money to make many moves. Unloading Wilkerson would free up nearly $16 million in cap space, which is the type of salary that can bring in two very capable starters to the roster. That is enough not only to lock up Harrison, but to also upgrade a position such as right tackle or solidify running back. While Wilkerson will not fetch a first round pick, adding one or two mid round picks (most importantly an early second) in this class could carry great value.If the Jets franchise Wilkerson again in 2017, his cap number will jump 120 percent. One more year closer to 30 will only decline his trade value as well, while the Jets will most likely already have lost one of the best nose tackles in Harrison the offseason before. It’s a tough fact to swallow, but the Jets have to trade Muhammad Wilkerson. > http://jetswire.usatoday.com/2016/03/04/the-new-york-jets-need-to-trade-muhammad-wilkerson/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share Posted March 7, 2016 Here's your bonus New York Jets mailbag, as promised : @RichCimini any chance to pack Wilkerson and 1st round to climb up in the draft? #jetsmail @RichCimini: It's an interesting question, Harry, one I'm sure the Jets have explored. Logically, there are two prime periods to trade Muhammad Wilkerson. The first is, like, now, meaning in the coming days. If they deal the Pro Bowl defensive end at the start of free agency, they'd be able to use the additional cap space ($15.7 million) to sign quality free agents. As you know, the top players are scooped up in the first few days. Once the first wave is over, the urgency for cap space is reduced. The second period is right before the draft, when they could try to use Wilkerson as a bargaining chip to improve their draft position, as your question suggests. Right now, the Jets have the 20th pick. In theory, that pick, packaged with Wilkerson, could get them into the top 10, perhaps a little higher. The obvious question is, who would the Jets target? To me, the only rationale for a move like that would be to draft a can't-miss quarterback. Jared Goff andCarson Wentz are good prospects, but they're not in the Andrew Luck, super-blue chip category. Would you give up Wilkerson and a first-rounder to draft an offensive lineman? No. A pass-rushing linebacker? Tell me he's the next Von Miller, and I'd consider it. A cornerback? Look, Jalen Ramsey might be the best overall player in the draft, but there's no way he slips beyond the top three or four. Another issue to consider: The market for Wilkerson could be dried up by the draft. Interested teams could be out of cap space by then, having addressed their needs in free agency. If not, those same teams could be content to keep their pick, using it to take one of the many talented defensive linemen in this year's draft -- and it would be roughly $10 million a year cheaper than trading for Wilkerson. So the answer to your question is, not likely. As I've stated on many occasions, a tag-and-trade is very difficult to execute. That's not a knock on Wilkerson, a very good player; it's just the reality of football economics. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58791/could-jets-dangle-muhammad-wilkerson-to-jump-into-top-10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 saw this.. ~ ~ Unable to reach a long-term deal with Muhammad Wilkerson, the New York Jets have reportedly elected to use the franchise tag to ensure they will not lose his rights in free agency. While the Jets also have other free agents, such as Damon Harrison, that they could have tagged instead, Wilkerson is by far the best use. The former 30th-overall pick of the 2011 NFL draft quickly developed into one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league. Over the past four seasons, Wilkerson has graded among the top five 3-4 DEs three times, with 2013 as the lone exception. Typically, he’s been better in run defense than as a pass rusher, but that does not diminish what he has accomplished as a rusher. In fact, Wilkerson is coming off a 10.7 pass rushing productivity that ranked fifth at his position in 2015, along with 78 total pressures, both of which are career-highs.Although Wilkerson is now tagged, the Jets still have to decisions to make regarding his future. The first of their options is that they can let him play out the 2016 season on his one-year deal. Wilkerson did suffer a broken leg in Week 17 that he is recovering from, although reports are that he is progressing well. But if the team is considering keeping him long-term and wants to see how he plays prior to re-signing him, they do have that option. New York could also still try to re-sign him for the long-term prior to the start of the season. While they would definitely want to keep a player of his caliber, the Jets have already invested a lot into Sheldon Richardson and last year’s first-round pick Leonard Williams. The Jets will have to commit a significant amount of money to a single position group, especially if they also keep NT Damon Williams. It would be unlikely they could—or would—want to keep both players, and will likely have to choose between the two.The last option, which also seems to be the most-rumored, is that the Jets trade him prior to the draft. There should be no shortage of teams interested in Wilkerson. While he’s primarily been an interior defender, he played significantly more as an edge defender last season, and did exceptionally well. He’s also only 26 years old, plenty young enough for another team with cap space to heavily invest in a long-term contract for the All-Pro. A first-round pick (or more) in return for Wilkerson may be a difficult offer to turn down. Regardless of what the Jets decide, the tag will allow New York to either retain the All-Pro or trade for draft picks, as they try to improve upon their 10-6 record heading into their second season under head coach Todd Bowles. > https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/03/01/pro-why-tagging-muhammad-wilkerson-is-a-smart-move-by-jets/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 The New York Jets, in a dire salary-cap situation, quietly tried to land one of the biggest fish in the free-agent waters -- Olivier Vernon. And by biggest, we mean one of the most expensive. They were one of the three finalists for former Miami Dolphins pass-rusher Vernon, according to Peter King of MMQB. Vernon went to the highest bidder -- the New York Giants, who gave him a five-year, $85 million contract. The Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars were in the hunt, with the Jets dropping out at $15 million per year, per King, who provides a virtual play-by-play of the negotiations. This could be semantics, but my understanding is the Jets never made a firm offer. They took an exploratory approach, never thinking they had a realistic shot. Nevertheless, their interest triggers a few thoughts : Muhammad Wilkerson's chances of getting a long-term deal from the Jets are between slim and none. The dalliance with Vernon shows they're willing to spend big bucks if they see value. Evidently, they don't see Wilkerson in that light, so he sits with the franchise tag ($15.7 million). He has to be furious. Presumably, they would've used Vernon -- a defensive end in Miami -- as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 front. Obviously, that's a great need, and they could've justified the contract that way. Still, it would've been a slap in the face for Wilkerson. And you have to wonder what Ryan Fitzpatrickmust be thinking. He's engaged in a contractual staredown with the Jets, and yet they were willing to give one of the biggest contracts in team history to a guy who had 7.5 sacks last season. The interest in Vernon shows there's a big shoe that could drop at any time. If the Jets had signed Vernon, they probably would've had to make a corresponding salary dump. Maybe they would've traded Wilkerson to the highest bidder. Maybe they would've released left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Nearly 40 percent of the cap would've been tied up with four players -- Wilkerson, Ferguson, Olivier and Darrelle Revis. In some respects, the salary cap is a myth. If a team really wants to add a player, it will find a way to do it. > http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/58930/jets-interest-in-olivier-vernon-doesnt-bode-well-for-mo-wilkerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Olivier Vernon ended up signing with the Giants for five years and $85 million, but he had interest from both teams in New York.David Canter, the agent for Vernon, told theMMQB.com that the final three teams in the bidding for Vernon were the Giants, Jaguars and surprisingly the Jets. According to Canter, the Jets were willing to give Vernon a five-year deal, but dropped out when the money went over $15 million per year. This is surprising because the Jets have very little salary-cap space, and were not expected to be in the running for any of the premium free agents. This could signal the Jets believe they can trade defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who they gave the franchise tag to at a price of $15.7 million. There has been speculation the Jets may try to trade Wilkerson after putting the tag on him, simply because it does not appear they have any interest in signing him long term. But it is not easy to pull off a tag and trade. The Jets would have to get their desired compensation from the team and Wilkerson and his agent would have to agree to a new contract with the team trading for him. Wilkerson may not be pleased to see the Jets were willing to pay Vernon after showing no interest in paying him for the past year. It sends a terrible message to Wilkerson that the Jets are willing to pay an outside player, but not him. Wilkerson had 12 sacks last year, while Vernon had just 7.5. The Jets have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with Wilkerson or he will playunder the tag this season if he is not traded. He is currently rehabilitating his right leg, which he broke in the team’s final game of the season. He is ahead of schedule and expected to be ready for training camp. > http://nypost.com/2016/03/10/what-jets-olivier-vernon-push-means-for-mo-wilkerson/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 NJ Advance Media's Darryl Slater believes the Jets "probably won't get a first-round draft pick" for franchise-tagged DE Muhammad Wilkerson. It has been widely reported the Jets are willing to trade Wilkerson after placing the franchise tag on him in late February. Plenty of organizations would like to have a talent like Wilkerson on their roster, but it may be tough to justify paying a first-round pick and shelling out the big guaranteed contract Wilkerson is certainly after. It also might not make sense for the Jets to give up their best defensive player for anything less than a first-round pick. With Damon Harrison already out the door, New York should do everything they can to keep Wilkerson long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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