The Jets ultimately will hand a pile of loot to Muhammad Wilkerson, but re-upping with the defensive end isn't at the top of New York's offseason to-do list.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported Friday that the team has engaged in "recent discussions" with the pass rusher, but no new deal is "on the horizon."
Instead, the Jets plan to exercise Wilkerson's 2015 option before the May 3 deadline while general manager John Idzik makes free agency and the draft a bigger priority. While Gang Green hasn't closed the door on further negotiations this summer, Mehta was told that a new deal is unlikely unless the defender is open to a "team-friendly deal."
Wilkerson likely agitated his agent and reduced New York's sense of urgency by promising last month, "I'm not going to hold out." He also expressed patience and confidence that a fair deal eventually would be floated his way, and we anticipate the same.
Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison make up one of the NFL's most disruptive defensive fronts. The Jets will be a load to handle as long as the trio sticks together, and we don't expect Idzik and his men to let Wilkerson slip away.
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