The Jets missed the boat on signing Muhammad Wilkerson to a long-term deal, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap writes. The Jets’ could have extended Wilkerson early in 2014 when the market was somewhat depressed due to a stagnant cap between 2011 and 2013. Also, at that time, the highest-paid 3-4 defensive end made ~$11MM. Now, the Jets have dragged their feet and the market for 3-4 DEs has exploded.
Now, Fitzgerald feels that the Jets should offer him a “no franchise tag designation” for 2017 in return for signing his contract and coming to camp on time. They also can restructure the terms of his contract so that Wilkerson earns more in August, rather than waiting 17 weeks for his full salary. Ultimately, Fitzgerald does not see an outcome in which the Jets can hammer out an extension with Wilkerson.
Here’s more on Gang Green:
- Even if Jets were open to a one-year, $12MM with Ryan Fitzpatrick, it would be hard to pull off with roughly $3.5MM of cap room, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets. In order to pull that kind of deal off, voidable years would be necessary. Earlier today, we learned that the Jets are not interested in a one-year, $12MM “compromise” with the 33-year-old.
- Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter) suggests that a one-year compromise between the Jets and Fitzpatrick could be a base deal of ~$8MM with playing time and playoff incentives that boost the deal to (or beyond) $12MM.
- Bob Glauber of Newsday believes that the gridlock between the Jets and Fitzpatrick will ultimately result in a deal. Glauber also believes that he needs the Jets more than the Jets need him.
- Steve Serby of the New York Post also feels that a deal will get done eventually between the veteran quarterback and the Jets. However, Serby seems to think that it’s Fitzpatrick who has the upper hand, in part because the team’s veterans will be extremely upset if they do not have him under center. He also believes that GM Mike Maccagnan will ultimately improve his offer to Fitzpatrick because he is not the type to let his pride get in the way of what’s best for the team.