The Jets have released Muhammad Wilkerson, their chronically late, underperforming defensive end, according to ESPN.
Wilkerson's release brings to an end a disappointing, two-season run, after he received a lucrative contract in the summer of 2016.
Wilkerson never lived up to that contract, on the field or off. He had 4.5 sacks in 2016 and 3.5 in 2017, after having 12 in 2015, when he made his lone Pro Bowl appearance.
Wilkerson apparently didn't want his $16.75 million salary for 2018. That money was set to become fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year, on March 16. By cutting him before then, the Jets owe Wilkerson none of that money.
In three straight seasons, 2015-17, Wilkerson was suspended one quarter of a game due to tardiness. Also in 2017, he was benched for the Jets' trip to New Orleans, for the same reason.
After the New Orleans trip, the Jets made Wilkerson a healthy scratch for their final two games -- a clear sign they were finished with him. After all, his 2018 salary was guaranteed only against injury, and the Jets didn't want to run the risk of injury by playing him.
Wilkerson, 28, had clearly checked out, so it made sense for the Jets to cut him. A young, rebuilding locker room did not need his negative presence any longer.
He was scheduled to have a $20 million salary cap figure in 2018, which would have been the third year of his five-year contract. The Jets free up $11 million in cap space by cutting him, with $9 million in dead money attached.
Earlier Wednesday, the Jets got $3 million in cap space (with $1 million in dead money attached) when running back Matt Forte retired. That presumes Wilkerson won't be designated as a post-June 1 cut. Doing that would free up $17 million in cap space for 2017, rather than $11 million, but it would spread the $9 million dead money figure equally from 2018-20.
Wilkerson made $37 million from the Jets in 2016-17 for doing next to nothing and showing up late. The deal brings to mind the Jets' ill-fated contract for cornerback Darrelle Revis, who made $39 million from 2015-16 and mostly disappointed.
The Jets drafted Wilkerson, a Linden native, 30th overall in 2011. He blossomed as a player from 2013-15, when he had 10.5, six, and 12 sacks. It looked like he was an ascending pass rusher. Then came the next two seasons, when he barely showed up, in more ways than one.
Wilkerson's total maximum contract value was $86 million, so he left $49 million on the table with his selfish behavior at the Jets' facility and lackluster performances in games.
At the very least, the Jets surely would have kept Wilkerson around for 2018 if he bothered to show any interest in doing the basic tasks of his job. If Wilkerson had stuck with the Jets through 2018, he would have increased his pay from that contract to $53.75 million.
There is pretty much zero way Wilkerson gets anywhere close to $16.75 million from another team in 2018. Maybe he just decided he was fine with the money he made in the first seven years of his NFLcareer -- $50.872 million.
