Muhammad Wilkerson gets $15.7M franchise tag from Jets
New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) after the game between the Philadelphia Eagles at the New York Jets on September 27, 2015. Credit: Lee S. Weissman
It’s official: Muhammad Wilkerson won’t become a free agent this year.
The Jets placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on their star defensive end Tuesday, which keeps him under their control in 2016. Wilkerson will make a fully guaranteed $15.7 million this season, but other teams still could make him an offer. Should that happen, the Jets could try to match. But if they were unable to, the team that got Wilkerson would have to give up two first-round picks.
By tagging Wilkerson, the Jets have only $6.2 million in salary-cap money and several pending free agents with whom to negotiate. Re-signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is their top priority, but that process may have just gotten more complicated after the Eagles signed Sam Bradford to a reported two-year, $36-million deal with $26 million guaranteed.
The Jets paid Fitzpatrick a base salary of $3.25 million last season. So expect the 33-year-old, who set career highs in wins as a starter (10), passing yards (3,905) and touchdown passes (31), to ask for a big increase. In addition to keeping him, the Jets also would like to retain productive nose tackle Damon Harrison. Running backs Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell and Stevan Ridley also will be free agents.
Since being selected 30th overall out of Temple in 2011, Wilkerson has totaled 36.5 sacks, 372 tackles (246 solo), 19 passes defensed and seven forced fumbles. He is the fourth Jet to receive the franchise designation in the past 10 years, joining defensive end John Abraham, linebacker David Harris and kicker Nick Folk. Tight end Kyle Brady received the transition player designation in 1999.
The good news for fans: Wilkerson’s camp and the Jets still would like to hammer out a long-term contract. But with the tag in place, unless they get a deal done by July 15 they will have to wait until after the season to continue negotiations. There’s also a possibility the cap-strapped Jets could pull off a tag-and-trade involving Wilkerson, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection and had a career-high 12 sacks in 2015.
