Jets Looking For A First-Round Pick In Return For Muhammad Wilkerson, Bears Unlikely To Be An Option

According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the Jets are looking for a first-round pick in return for franchise DE Muhammad Wilkerson.

Robinson adds that Wilkerson remains on the trading block and the possibility exists that the Jets could move him in the coming weeks.

However, if a deal isn’t done by the start of the draft, Robinson believes the Jets may elect to hold onto him and work on a potential contract extension.

A league source tells Robinson that the Bears are unlikely to be a trade partner for Wilkerson, as they’re unlikely to make their first-round pick available for trade.

The Bears have been a popular team in terms of speculative options for a Wilkerson trade. However, there are a number of factors working against such a move including compensation and the fact that whoever trades for him would have to sign him to a massive contract extension, so it’s not just giving up a high pick.

Rich Cimini of ESPN previously spoke with officials from four different teams at the owners meetings about the idea of the Jets trading Wilkerson and one official described the chances of a deal happening as: “Next to impossible.”

Wilkerson, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Jets back in 2011. He played out his rookie contract with the team and was in line to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason before the Jets used their franchise tag on him.

The franchise tag will run the Jets $15.701 million fully guaranteed for the 2016 season, but won’t prevent them from negotiating a long-term deal that would reduce this figure and offer them some additional cap space.

In 2015, Wilkerson recorded 59 tackles, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles and six pass defenses over the course of 15 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 5 defensive end in a 3-4 system out of 57 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Wilkerson and his future with the Jets as the news is available.