New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson hopeful for a new deal

The New York Jets have had a great offseason, but there is still one big thing looming over the team.

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Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has made it clear that he would like a long-term deal with the Jets by skipping OTA’s. The Jets will have their first mandatory activities of the offseason next week, but according to Wilkerson, no decision has been made on whether or not he’ll be there.

“I guess we’ll see,” Wilkerson said to Brian Costello of the New York Post. “That’s something my agent and I will discuss this weekend. He’s here this weekend for my events, tonight and tomorrow for my football camp. That decision will be made some time this weekend.”

Wilkerson is still under contract for the next season by the Jets, as he’s set to make just under $7 million dollars in 2015. Even if the Jets have Wilkerson play out this season, they can always use the franchise tag on him next season to keep him under their control.

In football, it’s perfectly understandable for a player to want to have some security, as in a physical game, careers can end quickly.

“It’s a business at the end of the day and all I can do is keep doing what I’m doing, working out and staying in shape and get ready for the season,” Wilkerson said to Costello.

Wilkerson has played four seasons for the Jets, and has been a very good player so far. In four seasons, Wilkerson has totaled 24.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, 14 passes defended, and one interception.

“I just thought you work hard on the field,” Wilkerson said to Costello, “do what you got to do on and off the field and that’s how you’re supposed to get rewarded.”

After the Jets selected Leonard Williams in the first-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, there was instant speculation that Wilkerson was going to be traded. So far, Jets’ general manager Mike Maccagnan has said the keeping Wilkerson is his No.1 priority. With the unknown of what Williams is at the NFL level, trading Wilkerson with the ability to keep him for the next two seasons would be unwise.

“Not at all. If I was to get traded, of course I’m a New Jersey guy, I want to be here,” Wilkerson said to Costello when asked about possibility being traded. “If I was to get traded, there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s a business.”

It’s going very slow, but both sides seem to have the mutual interest of Wilkerson staying in New York.

Next: Who is the best first-round pick in Jets history?

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