J
Jetsfanatic
Guest
This is something I thought of also.
http://profootballspot.com/_/nfl/af...g-money-on-wilkerson-to-pay-richardson-r10160
Muhammad Wilkerson’s contract situation is by far the biggest news surrounding the Jets as minicamp ends. For all of Geno Smith’s inconsistencies, Willie Colon’s commentary and Antonio Cromartie’s Twitter wars, those storyline's pale in comparison to Wilkerson.
New York’s All-Pro defensive end is entering the final year of his contract and despite Mike Maccagnan calling an extension a “priority” for the Jets, the team’s actions paint a different picture. With Sheldon Richardson’s contract due up after the 2017 season, assuming the Jets exercise his fifth-year option, are the Jets realizing they can’t pay both?
The Jets have just over $5 million in salary cap space available this season, according to Spotrac. Next season, that number jumps to around $18 million and balloons to $42 million in 2017. While some of that extra money must be used to fill out the roster, the Jets could be in a much better financial situation to dole out big money to a star defensive end next season or the year after instead of this year.
Wilkerson currently counts for about $7 million against this season’s cap and if he truly wants “Suh money” like the outspoken Richardson said last week, that number would rise about $10 million if the extension included the 2015 season. Since the Jets can’t afford that, any extension would have to kick in starting next year, when the team has $18 million to play with.
Even if the Jets were to give Wilkerson a contract more in line with Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, who got $55 million over five years with $33 million guaranteed, that would eat up over 60 percent of the team’s available cap space next season, and that’s before having to pay the team’s 2016 draft class. Wilkerson is a better player than Jordan, and is more likely to split the difference between Suh’s $114 million and Jordan’s $55 million. Either way, it’s looking like the Jets can’t afford him.
If Maccagnan were to find a creative way to fit Wilkerson into the team’s current cap situation, it would virtually guarantee Richardson’s eventual exit from the Big Apple, as the Jets can’t afford to invest over $150 million in defensive ends when they just spent a first-round pick on Leonard Williams. The team’s current cap situation and the general notion that Richardson is a better player seem to have the Jets leaning towards letting Wilkerson test free agency, with an eye towards prioritizing an extension for Richardson down the line.
Richardson increased his sack total from 3.5 as a rookie to eight in 2014, while Wilkerson got to the quarterback only 5.5 times after reaching double digits (10.5) in 2013. The duo still combined for almost the same number of sacks, but it was the more explosive Richardson finishing plays instead of Wilkerson. Both players are dominant run defenders, ranking first and second in Pro Football Focus’ run defense rankings last season among 3-4 defensive ends, but Richardson has a higher ceiling as a pass rusher.
Williams profiles similarly to Wilkerson as an athlete and on film, and neither look like the annual double-digit sack threat that Richardson can be. After the Jets spent heavily in free agency, drafted a similar player with a premium pick and haven’t shown much initiative to handle Wilkerson’s contract situation, all signs are pointing towards the team eschewing an extension this season and allowing their star defensive end to see what awaits him in free agency, which is a huge contract.
Maccagnan likely understands the risks of letting a player of Wilkerson’s caliber hit the open market, as players rarely take less money to stay with teams that refused to provide them with the stability of a contract extension, especially when that team drafted an obvious potential replacement. To Wilkerson’s credit, he recognizes his lack of leverage and will report to mandatory camp, and his unhappiness seems most likely to serve as motivation to prove his worth heading into unrestricted free agency.
It’s hard to argue with the Jets’ position here, although it’s tough for fans to accept that an All-Pro talent may be heading out for greener pastures in short order. The Jets seems content to go into 2016 and beyond with Williams and Richardson on the ends, with an extension for Richardson seeming likely, but certainly not guaranteed. For now, it’s time to enjoy what is looking more and more like Wilkerson’s swan song in green and white.
http://profootballspot.com/_/nfl/af...g-money-on-wilkerson-to-pay-richardson-r10160
Muhammad Wilkerson’s contract situation is by far the biggest news surrounding the Jets as minicamp ends. For all of Geno Smith’s inconsistencies, Willie Colon’s commentary and Antonio Cromartie’s Twitter wars, those storyline's pale in comparison to Wilkerson.
New York’s All-Pro defensive end is entering the final year of his contract and despite Mike Maccagnan calling an extension a “priority” for the Jets, the team’s actions paint a different picture. With Sheldon Richardson’s contract due up after the 2017 season, assuming the Jets exercise his fifth-year option, are the Jets realizing they can’t pay both?
The Jets have just over $5 million in salary cap space available this season, according to Spotrac. Next season, that number jumps to around $18 million and balloons to $42 million in 2017. While some of that extra money must be used to fill out the roster, the Jets could be in a much better financial situation to dole out big money to a star defensive end next season or the year after instead of this year.
Wilkerson currently counts for about $7 million against this season’s cap and if he truly wants “Suh money” like the outspoken Richardson said last week, that number would rise about $10 million if the extension included the 2015 season. Since the Jets can’t afford that, any extension would have to kick in starting next year, when the team has $18 million to play with.
Even if the Jets were to give Wilkerson a contract more in line with Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, who got $55 million over five years with $33 million guaranteed, that would eat up over 60 percent of the team’s available cap space next season, and that’s before having to pay the team’s 2016 draft class. Wilkerson is a better player than Jordan, and is more likely to split the difference between Suh’s $114 million and Jordan’s $55 million. Either way, it’s looking like the Jets can’t afford him.
If Maccagnan were to find a creative way to fit Wilkerson into the team’s current cap situation, it would virtually guarantee Richardson’s eventual exit from the Big Apple, as the Jets can’t afford to invest over $150 million in defensive ends when they just spent a first-round pick on Leonard Williams. The team’s current cap situation and the general notion that Richardson is a better player seem to have the Jets leaning towards letting Wilkerson test free agency, with an eye towards prioritizing an extension for Richardson down the line.
Richardson increased his sack total from 3.5 as a rookie to eight in 2014, while Wilkerson got to the quarterback only 5.5 times after reaching double digits (10.5) in 2013. The duo still combined for almost the same number of sacks, but it was the more explosive Richardson finishing plays instead of Wilkerson. Both players are dominant run defenders, ranking first and second in Pro Football Focus’ run defense rankings last season among 3-4 defensive ends, but Richardson has a higher ceiling as a pass rusher.
Williams profiles similarly to Wilkerson as an athlete and on film, and neither look like the annual double-digit sack threat that Richardson can be. After the Jets spent heavily in free agency, drafted a similar player with a premium pick and haven’t shown much initiative to handle Wilkerson’s contract situation, all signs are pointing towards the team eschewing an extension this season and allowing their star defensive end to see what awaits him in free agency, which is a huge contract.
Maccagnan likely understands the risks of letting a player of Wilkerson’s caliber hit the open market, as players rarely take less money to stay with teams that refused to provide them with the stability of a contract extension, especially when that team drafted an obvious potential replacement. To Wilkerson’s credit, he recognizes his lack of leverage and will report to mandatory camp, and his unhappiness seems most likely to serve as motivation to prove his worth heading into unrestricted free agency.
It’s hard to argue with the Jets’ position here, although it’s tough for fans to accept that an All-Pro talent may be heading out for greener pastures in short order. The Jets seems content to go into 2016 and beyond with Williams and Richardson on the ends, with an extension for Richardson seeming likely, but certainly not guaranteed. For now, it’s time to enjoy what is looking more and more like Wilkerson’s swan song in green and white.
