Wake and Wilkerson

I want to touch on something regarding defensive end Mo Wilkerson and his contract . . .

The Jets were in the running for former Miami Dolphin Olivier Vernon, who ended up signing with the New York Giants.

“This could signal the Jets believe they can trade defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, whom they gave the franchise tag at a price of $15.7 million,” wrote the New York Post. “There has been speculation the Jets may try to trade Wilkerson after putting the tag on him, simply because it does not appear they have any interest in signing him long term.

“Wilkerson may not be pleased to see the Jets were willing to pay Vernon after showing no interest in paying him for the past year. It sends a terrible message to Wilkerson that the Jets are willing to pay an outside player, but not him. Wilkerson had 12 sacks last year, while Vernon had just 7.5.”

Somebody called me this morning and said, “Did you see the Jets were trying to sign somebody to replace Wilkerson?”

I had no seen the story.

I did know the Jets were pursuing Vernon, but I never connected this to Wilkerson.

Because there is little connection.

Yes, Vernon is listed as a defensive end, and so is Wilkerson.

But Vernon is a 4-3 defensive end, but in the Jet system, he would be an outside linebacker.
The dude is 6-2, 261 pounds. He’s an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. We have talked ad infinitum about the Jets need for an edge pass rusher at outside linebacker. That is how they viewed Vernon.

That isn’t Wilkerson’s position or role.

As for “Wilkerson may not be pleased to see the Jets were willing to pay Vernon after showing no interest in paying him for the past year. It sends a terrible message to Wilkerson that the Jets are willing to pay an outside player, but not him.”

I respectfully disagree with this premise.

The Jets offered Vernon an average of $15 million a year. The guarantee is unclear.

If Wilkerson was willing to take $15 million a year, a deal would likely be done already. He’s got his eye on the Ndamukong Suh which is $19 million a year and Marcell Dareus at 18 million a year.

So this narrative connecting Vernon to Wilkerson I can’t totally agree with it.

The Giants are clearly desperate. The contract they gave Vernon was way over the top, and Jets were smart to drop out.

$17 million a year for the Miami’s second pass rusher is crazy. Cam Wake was the king down there, and Vernon often benefited from having him on the other side.

But this Vernon contract shows you the impact Von Miller is having around the league.

Miller almost single-handedly beat New England and Carolina in the playoffs.

So many teams around the league are looking for that guy. Bruce Irvin, who had just 22 sacks in four years in Seattle, got almost $10 million a year from Oakland.

Todd Bowles desperately wants a guy like that. Desperately. He wants an alpha edge pass rusher. He lacked that last year.

And their pursuit of Vernon shows you that.

Now it might need to come from the draft.

March 11, 2016

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