The New York Jets and Muhammad Wilkerson pulled off a franchise tag deadline stunner, as the two sides agreed to a five-year deal for $86 million, with $54 million in guarantees over the first three years of the deal according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora:
Wilkerson gets $86M for 5yrs. $37M fully guaranteed and $54m over next 3yrs. Has $53.5M guar injury
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 15, 2016
Jets and Wilkerson made progress today when they honed in on a 5-year format. Dramatic turn for the better
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 15, 2016
Jets presented Mo Wilkerson with a proposal a couple weeks back, sides kept in contact since. Talks heated up today. Just beat the deadline.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 15, 2016
On Thursday, NJ.Com’s Daryl Slater had this to say in his article on the Wilkerson negotiations:
Barring a last-minute change, it looks like Wilkerson won’t sign a long-term contract by 4 p.m. Friday, and will play 2016 on a one-year franchise tag contract.
Well, apparently there was an indeed a last-minute change. And while it’s a lot of money, the Jets have to be pretty happy to be able to keep this beastly defensive end around through 2020.
The 6’4″, 315-pounder had a career-high 12 sacks in 2016, a ridiculous amount of sacks for a 3-4 defensive end. Wilkerson’s 78 pressures in 2016 were second in the NFL for a 3-4 defensive end, behind only J.J. Watt:
Muhammad Wilkerson had 78 pressures last year; 2nd most for a 3-4 DE behind J.J. Watt — Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) July 15, 2016
Earlier in the day, the Denver Broncos locked up Von Miller to an even bigger deal, so two AFC teams have prevented two of the game’s premier defensive players from potentially hitting the open market next offseason.
