kelly Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Muhammad Wilkerson has been out for more than a week with a hamstring injury, but the larger, looming story with him concerns his contract, and his future with the Jets. Namely: What kind of long-term deal might Wilkerson be able to command at this point ? First thing's first: Wilkerson is under contract for 2015, at a salary of $6.97 million. Beyond that? Nothing, though the Jets do have the option of giving him the franchise or transition tag next year, which would make six seasons in which he will have been under team control without negotiating the terms of what he might earn.Wilkerson's camp has set a deadline of the start of the regular season, at which point he intends to honor his 2015 terms before returning to the bargaining table after the season ends. Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has said on several occasions that the Jets would like to keep Wilkerson, and that the franchise has the resources to do so, even after their offseason spending spree on outside free agents. So what can Wilkerson expect ? The league's highest-paid 3-4 defensive end is the Texans' J.J. Watt, whose deal—signed last September—calls for roughly $50 million in guaranteed money and a max length of six years, $100 million. Watt is far and away the best 3-4 end in the league.But Wilkerson, who graded out as the third-best in the NFL at the position last year, according to Pro Football Focus, is in that tier right below him. The same goes for the Steelers' Cameron Heyward (graded sixth by PFF), with the Chargers' Corey Liguet (25th) maybe a notch below that. Both Heyward and Liguet got long-term deals this offseason, as did the Saints' Cameron Jordan, who plays mainly in a 4-3, and is not quite of Wilkerson's caliber, even if he did have eight sacks in 2014 to Wilkerson's seven.Heyward, Liguet, and Jordan all got relatively similar deals, though all of their deals were structured differently. Let's take a look, if for no other reasons that to see the different ways the Jets and Wilkerson might want to proceed. Cameron Heyward, Steelers Max length/total value: 5 years, $59.25 million Total full guarantees: $15 million (all payable in 2015) Signing bonus (fully guaranteed): $12 million Full guarantees after 2015: $0 Injury guarantees after 2015: $0 Annual roster bonuses: $3 million (2015), $5 million (2016), $3 million (2017) Annual salaries and bonuses (excluding signing bonus): $4 million (2015), $8 million (2016), $8 million (2017), $9 million (2018), $8.75 million (2019), $9.5 million (2020) Cap charges: $6.4 million (2015), $10.4 million (2016), $10.4 million (2017), $11.4 million (2018), $11.15 million (2019), $9.5 million (2020) Analysis: Heyward's deal is the most straightforward, with the signing bonus accounting for much of the fully guaranteed money, much of the cap impact coming after this year, and roster bonuses padding it out in 2016 and 2017. Source: Overthecap.com Corey Liuget, Chargers Max length/total value: 5 years, $51.25 million Average annual value: $10.25 million Total full guarantees: $13.977 million (all payable in 2015) Signing bonus (fully guaranteed): $7.5 million Full guarantees after 2015: $0 Injury guarantees (including 2015): $30.477 million Annual roster bonuses: $5.477 million (2015), $5.5 million (2016), $1.25 million (2018), $1.25 million (2019), $1.25 million (2020) Annual salaries and bonuses (excluding signing bonus): $6.477 million (2015), $8.5 million (2016), $8 million (2017), $8 million (2018), $8.75 million (2018), $9.5 million (2020) Cap charges: $7.977 million (2015), $10 million (2016), $9.5 million (2017), $9.5 million (2018), $10.25 million (2019), $9.5 million (2020) Analysis: Liguet is getting less fully guaranteed than the others, but he's got a substantial amount guaranteed against injury, which can be important. His annual salaries and cap charges are pretty consistent, too. Source: Overthecap.com Cameron Jordan, Saints Max length/total value: 5 years, $55 million Average annual (max) value: $11 million (can rise to $12 million with escalators) Total full guarantees (skill and injury): $22.969 million (all payable by 2016) Signing bonus (fully guaranteed): $16 million Total full guarantees after 2015: $6 million (payable on fifth day of 2016 league year) Injury guarantees: $20.469 million Annual roster bonuses: $6 million (2015), $800,000 (2018), $1 million (2019), $1 million (2020) Escalators: $1.25 million per year ($5 million total) in sack incentives from 2017-20 Annual salaries and bonuses (excluding signing bonus): $969,000 (2015), $9.6 million (2016), $7.1 million (2017), $9.3 million (2018), $9.1 million (2019), $9.9 million (2020) Cap charges: $4.169 million (2015), $12.8 million (2016), $10.3 million (2017), $12.5 million (2018), $12.3 million (2019), $9.9 million (2020) Analysis: Jordan has the biggest full guarantee of the bunch, including a $6 million guarantee for skill and injury for next year. Like Liguet, there are roster bonuses that can pad the value of Jordan's deal, and the sack incentives could drive the contract's total value as high as $60 million, if Jordan were to play out the life of the deal. Source: Overthecap.com > http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/08/whats_the_contract_market_for_jets_muhammad_wilker.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJOTOWNSELL Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 ......seriously?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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