Rich Cimini of ESPN New York writes that although the Jets want to sign DE Muhammad Wilkerson to an extension, “there’s no sense of urgency this year because he’s under contract through 2015.”
The Jets have Wilkerson under team control through the 2015 season with reasonable salaries of $2.2. million and $7.0 million, so there really isn’t an incentive to offer him a market-value contract at this point in time.
Cimini mentions that GM John Idzik is a “hard-line negotiator” who has shown a tendency for maximizing leverage in contract talks.
It just so happens that the Jets have far more leverage in this situation than Wilkerson, but Cimini wouldn’t rule out the Jets approaching him regarding a contract extension before the start of the season. Although, they may not offer Wilkerson as much as he and his agents believe he’s worth.
Cimini believes J.J. Watt‘s next contract could be used as a “measuring stick,” depending on whether or not the Texans reach an agreement at some point in the near future.
Wilkerson, 24, had his 2015 option picked up a few months ago, although his $6 million salary isn’t guaranteed and won’t prevent the two sides from agreeing on a new contract.
In his first three seasons in the NFL, Wilkerson has totaled 116 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and an interception.
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