Muhammad Wilkerson‘s free agency tour has logged three Central Time Zone stops, and the eighth-year defender will next be making a trip back east when he meets with the Redskins.
But the veteran defensive end has not been shy about being eager to see what the market looks like, and a trip to a third time zone could be next. The Raiders are also interested in Wilkerson, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The parties have yet to schedule a visit, but Wilkerson is set to embark on his fourth trip — to Washington D.C. after he wraps up a Kansas City meeting — and reports have indicated he’s open to more. The legal tampering period opening on Monday could complicate matters, with a slew of UFAs now available to speak with teams, but Wilkerson is one of the best interior defenders on the market.
The Raiders will use a 4-3 scheme under Paul Guenther, but the Saints do as well. Wilkerson sounds amenable to playing in a 4-3 set for the first time, if the money is right.
Oakland re-signed Justin Ellis on Friday but could be losing Denico Autry in free agency and has Mario Edwards entering a contract year. And the second-round investment the franchise made in Jihad Ward two years ago has not yet panned out.