Muhammad Wilkerson will take his first free agent with the Packers on Wednesday, Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel (on Twitter) hears. Wilkerson was formally released by the Jets on Monday, freeing him up to meet with interested clubs.
Wilkerson was once one of the league’s most imposing defensive ends before he imploded in New York. Green Bay apparently believes that new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine – who overlapped with Wilkerson in New York in 2011 and 2012 – can help get him back on track.
Before signing an ill-fated five-year, $86MM extension with Gang Green, Wilkerson enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2015, racking up a career-high 12 sacks and forcing three fumbles, to go along with 64 tackles. Wilkerson’s work ethic dropped off significantly after he cashed in and he was late to team functions on a number of occasions, but the Temple product still harbors serious talent.
The Packers and other teams will be drawn to Wilkerson due to his ability and the dearth of quality defensive linemen on this year’s market. There’s also another major plus to Wilkerson for Green Bay – because he is being released by the Jets, he would not count against the Packers’ compensatory pick formula.
Only if he comes cheap, GB won’t spend
we have a new GM cheap Ted Thoamson is out
you still have the same cheap board of directors
The board of directors haven’t made football decisions since before Ron Wolf was hired. Educate yourself before you post.
You’re kidding right? Do you seriously believe that? Who do you think calls the shots, usually the owner…. In this case many of them on the board. Do your homework, you’re only fooling yourself if you actually believe that.
The BoD is not regularly consulted on football matters. They’re doctors, lawyers, owners of car dealerships, pastors…they know little of football and more about business. That’s what they’re there for. You can’t tell me that if the BoD was making those decisions that McGinn and others wouldn’t be all over it?…especially if they’re overruling personnel people and messing up those decisions? They’d let that leak in a heartbeat.
I believe it because it’s fact. The BoD with recommendation from a firm, hired Mark Murphy as CEO. Mark has hired Brian Gutekunst to run the football operations. Mark deals with things like land development and ticket prices while Brian signs and cuts players, hires and fires coaching staff, and otherwise makes all football decisions. End of story.
Ray_Derek you are utterly clueless how the Green Bay football operations are run.
The Packers are going to spend the bulk of their cap regardless. Why would the BoD care if the money goes to 10 players or 2/3 players?
I don’t think it’ll have to be cheap. A moderate deal wouldn’t be terrible. Gutekunst said they’d be “aggressive”, but we won’t know how real that is until he does something.
Aggressive can be read in many ways, not just signing lots of big-name players. He’s said that he wants to talk to lots of FAs…that can be viewed as being aggressive all by itself.
I’ll be surprised if Wilkerson shows up to the meeting on time
He’s a clown. Guy got paid and quit. Piece of trash
he won’t play to full potential on any team waste of spot
Bad guy, gave up on the team. Got his guaranteed money and just chills.
Packers could really use him, but I’m not convinced he’ll be the most motivated player once he’s gotten his money.
He’s already gotten his money. His next deal will be nowhere close to what he signed in NY. Also maybe playing for a legit contender rather than the terrible jets lights a fire.
Haha team don’t matter. He got paid and has quit
With a guy like Mike Daniels in that D-line room there won’t be any nonsense from him.