NY Jets To Make Decision On Wilkerson After Season

[JetNation]

New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has emerged as a potential “All-Pro” lineman entering his third season.  Wilkerson was picked in the first round (30) of the 2011 NFL draft and has become the unofficial leader of the Jets young talented defensive line.

The new NFL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) took effect in 2011 along with the improved rookie wage system.  Under the CBA all drafted players receive a four year contract but teams hold an option to add a fifth year to those taken in round one.  Any team wanting to exercise this option has from the end of the player’s third regular season (December 30^th) till May 2^nd to add this extra year.

The Jets will have to decide whether to add this year to Wilkerson’s contract, which currently runs through 2014, at the end of this season.  The NFL uses a formula to determine the salary amount of tenders (unconditional contract offers) like the franchise or transition tags.  These tags allow teams to restrict one player who is set to become an unrestricted free agent by allowing teams to offer the player a one year guaranteed contract with the salary being set by the NFL’s formula.  Players can be acquired by another team once tagged but the original team had certain rights and may be entitled to draft pick compensation, so the team usually retains the player. 

Last season the franchise tag was $11.175 million and transition tag was $9.6 million for defensive ends.  Under the CBA the salary will be determined for the fifth year option using the same formula the NFL uses to determine the franchise/transition tags but for any first rounder picked 11-32 the formula is changed in a manner which will produce a lower salary.  Players picked 1-10 receive the transition tag salary for the year which the option was exercised.   

If the Jets choose to add a fifth year to Wilkerson’s contract the salary will be approximately $7 million for the 2015 season.  This salary is guaranteed for injury up until the start of the 2015 league year (March) when the salary becomes fully-guaranteed. 

This option on the surface is not fair since if Wilkerson was taken in round two this fifth-year would not be available and the team would likely have to franchise him, giving a higher salary, to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent after 2014.  Now they can restrict him with a lower number which gives the team leverage.

There is a positive side for Wilkerson if the Jets do decide to add the year on as it will give both sides some time to work out a long term deal.  Usually teams include a signing bonus with any long term contract and the bonus can be spread out up to five years for salary cap purposes.  This allows the player to receive a big payday while not costing much on the salary cap for the first contacted season.  The Jets could lower Wilkerson’s salary/cap charge for 2015 then what he’d receive under the option year salary but still pay him similar or even more money while locking him up by negotiating a new contract. 

Terms of the 2011 CBA and the salary rules regarding rookies is about to be challenged for the first time as players can get out from under their rookie contract and the rookie salary cap after their third year but teams will be able to add another year onto first round picks starting this offseason.  It will be interesting to see how teams and players handle this currently untested portion of the rookie wage system.

The Jets will likely add on the option year to Wilkerson’s contract and look to lock him up long term but with 2012 first round pick defensive lineman Quinton Coples waiting in the wings with the same scenario during the 2015 offseason it will be up to general manager John Idzik to implement the procedure which will handle this major decision.

Follow Me:

View the full article

[SayNoToDMC]

The only decision is how many years you extend him

[JohnnyLV]

Wilkerson is going no where, one way or the other. 

[Patriot Killa]

Idzik won't let Wilk go... way to much talent

, plus is only like.. 25

[Joe Jets fan]

Unless he is like Revis.....

[SenorGato]

What decision? The decision is to pay the man. 

[Lego My Lageman]

A beast, sign the beast.

[flgreen]

Jets have plenty of cap space next year.  Wilkerson's long term contract should be their first order of business before they talk to any FA's

[pointman]

Jets have plenty of cap space next year.  Wilkerson's long term contract should be their first order of business before they talk to any FA's

2nd, 2nd order of business after handling the Harris abomination of a contract.

[kay_gee]

sooo I'd give him four more years.

[Matt39]

You dont even attempt to sour this relationship over money.

[Patriot Killa]

Wilkerson has a great personality... really cant see him being like Revis

[jetsjetsjetss]

if we get rid of rex i wonder if hed abandon ship and go with rex

[flgreen]

Wilkerson has a great personality... really cant see him being like Revis

 

I agree.  Think if they deal fairly with him, he'll sign with out a problem.....................................I hope

[BroadwayJoe12]

Idzik won't let Wilk go... way to much talent

, plus is only like.. 25

 

Even better, dude actually turns 24 next month, which is just insane how young these guys are:  

Mo Wilk - 23 (24 this october)

Sheldon - 22 (23 this november)

Coples - 23 (just turned it this past june)

Snacks - 24 (25 this november)

Ellis - 25 (26 this december)

[Lizard King]

This is an example of a man you pay

[kay_gee]

Even better, dude actually turns 24 next month, which is just insane how young these guys are:

Mo Wilk - 23 (24 this october)

Sheldon - 22 (23 this november)

Coples - 23 (just turned it this past june)

Snacks - 24 (25 this november)

Ellis - 25 (26 this december)

I've said this before, but this is the most excited I've ever been about a d-line in my life. if the Jets keep them together and the injury bug doesn't hit them too badly, they could be some of the best ever.

[BroadwayJoe12]

I've said this before, but this is the most excited I've ever been about a d-line in my life. if the Jets keep them together and the injury bug doesn't hit them too badly, they could be some of the best ever.

 

What I found very telling was listening to Rex's presser sometime this week talking about Ellis and how he's been wally pipped: his entire face lit up and said that Ellis was playing at such an unbelievable level prior to his injury and that since his back didn't allow him to condition, once he's back in shape, look out.  Yes, Rex always talks up his players, but just the way he said it you could see the excitement on his face.  If guys stay healthy, I'm more than excited.  It's honestly hard to believe how well Sheldon is playing only 3 games into his career; Mayock said that when he called the coach up at Mizzou, he said he spoke the same way about Sheldon that he did about Aldon Smith and just said watch out, he's gonna be somebody.

[JohnnyLV]

I've said this before, but this is the most excited I've ever been about a d-line in my life. if the Jets keep them together and the injury bug doesn't hit them too badly, they could be some of the best ever.

 

OK bit of a green glasses comment, but I think they could turn into a legendary defensive line. They are already dominant and will get better. 

[JohnnyLV]

What I found very telling was listening to Rex's presser sometime this week talking about Ellis and how he's been wally pipped: his entire face lit up and said that Ellis was playing at such an unbelievable level prior to his injury and that since his back didn't allow him to condition, once he's back in shape, look out.  Yes, Rex always talks up his players, but just the way he said it you could see the excitement on his face.  If guys stay healthy, I'm more than excited.  It's honestly hard to believe how well Sheldon is playing only 3 games into his career; Mayock said that when he called the coach up at Mizzou, he said he spoke the same way about Sheldon that he did about Aldon Smith and just said watch out, he's gonna be somebody.

 

And we have the fortune of Snacks playing at a pro bowl level. Not that he will get noticed for a while, Wilks is still even pretty unknown

[sourceworx]

This is an example of a man you pay

 

Exactly.  A corner like Revis shuts down half the field.  A D-Lineman like Mo Wilk shuts the whole thing down by killing the QB.  

 

Pay the man.

[rillo]

Lock him up please

[Larz]

so its a good thing we didn't give mevis a billion dollars, and aren't trading for other teams cast offs or signing "name " players to sit on the bench with their knee injuries

 

glad a grown up runs this team

[TehFalcon63]

Am I the only who has also loved what he's seen from Douzable?

[Damaged89]

We've basically got a 23 year old Richard Seymour.  He shouldn't even be allowed to consider free agency.

[NCJETSFAN]

Can't keep them all it costs to much $

[Jetsfan80]

Ordinarily I'd throw out the Devil's Advocate viewpoint, "Well, Rex can coach up D-Line so don't overpay" but....f*** it.  He's that good.  Pay him.

[rillo]

Can't keep them all it costs to much $

If Mo stays healthy, he's the type of player that makes other guys better on the D-line.

[NCJETSFAN]

With the new Cba we control of him for 4 more yrs. next yr then the option ur and 2 yrs of franchiseing so they don't have to do anything

[DRJETS]

The Jets never had issues signing their own players.  The only New York team that do not act like a New Yorker is the lowly Mets.   the owner doesn't have money but whatever.   Look the Jets took care of their core, Fergunson, Mangol, Harris.  If you produce you will be take care.  The problem was that Revis was an ...hole.   He was never satisfy. 

[Villain The Foe]

Unless he is like Revis.....

Revis did what Tanny allowed. We're talking Jon Idzik here.

[GREENBEAN]

I've said this before, but this is the most excited I've ever been about a d-line in my life. if the Jets keep them together and the injury bug doesn't hit them too badly, they could be some of the best ever.

I couldn't agree more. I became a fan as a young kid during the sack exchange and remember watching them, but mainly Gastinaeu and the sack dance.  This is by far the most talented D line the Jets have had with the most potential since I could understand the game. It's only been three weeks, but things look good.... and for some reason I'm in italics and it won't change.

[ECURB]

if we get rid of rex i wonder if hed abandon ship and go with rex

There are a few players who probably wouldn't sign long term without knowing if Rex was in the play or not.