Last week, Brian Costello of the New York Daily News reported that the expectation from people around the NFL is that the Jets will exercise the fifth-year option on DE Muhammad Wilkerson and opt to negotiate a long-term deal at a later time.
Since then, there has been some speculation that Wilkerson could consider holding out for a long-term contract, but it doesn’t sound like this strategy has even crossed Wilkerson’s mind.
“It will be taken care of, definitely. But all that holdout and all that other talk that people were saying and everything – I never said anything like that. I’m not going to hold out,” Wilkerson said, via the Metro New York. “It’s not something I want; it’s not something I’m thinking about. I’m going to show up like everybody else and do what I’m told.”
Wilkerson, 24, will make just $1.2 million for 2014 season, so he is clearly in line for a massive contract after getting off to a great start to his NFL career. Even so, Wilkerson is hoping to finish out his career with the Jets.
“Like I tell everybody, that’s what I got an agent for. I feel I’ve got a damn good one. They’re going to discuss with John and them and I think they’re going to work something out,” Wilkerson said. “I have faith in them. At the end of the day, I want to be a Jet for life. I think I will be so I’m going to let everything take care of itself. Everything will fall into place; everything happens for a reason. I’m just sitting here waiting.”
In his first three seasons in the NFL, Wilkerson has totaled 116 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and an interception. The price of top-tier defensive ends continues to climb, so it will be interesting to see the contracts handed out to the 2011 class of pass rushers including J.J. Watt, Aldon Smith, Robert Quinn and of course Wilkerson.
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