New York Jets Rumors: Muhammad Wilkerson likes San Francisco
By Nick Ziegler
Recent New York Jets rumors have indicated that the team is exploring trading Muhammad Wilkerson, but where would he like to go?
The New York Jets have been unable to get a deal done with Muhammad Wilkerson, who was franchised tagged this offseason. Wilkerson is an elite defensive end and wants to be paid like one. The Jets have seem hesitant to give Wilkerson the long-term deal he desires, and now his name is being brought up in a lot of possible draft day deals.
New York has still yet to reach an agreement with Ryan Fitzpatrick on a new deal after a great season in 2015, and now they seem to be turning their attention to drafting a quarterback in the first-round of the NFL Draft.
According to Matt Borrows of the Sacramento Bee, Wilkerson loves San Francisco, and we could be seeing a possible trade partner for the Jets. In a Q&A, Barrows addressed a possible trade scenario for the 49ers.
"I’m going to try to answer all three questions with one inspired scenario … There are some draft observers who feel as if Cal quarterback Jared Goff will slide past the Browns at No. 2. If that’s the case, does he slide to the 49ers at No. 7? And if he does, would another team make a deal with San Francisco before he gets to the Eagles at No. 8? (Goff visited Philadelphia this week).Maybe that team is the Jets, who also are on Goff’s visitation list and who can’t seem to re-sign last year’s starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Jets pick at No. 20. A potential deal between the Jets and 49ers could involve Muhammad Wilkerson, the outstanding — and young — defensive lineman the salary-cap-strapped Jets also have trouble inking to an extension. Wilkerson wants a fresh start and I’m told he’d love to play in San Francisco, which is something you don’t hear a lot of defensive players saying.The 49ers have scads of cap space and a dearth of defensive linemen. In this scenario, the Jets would draft Goff at No. 7 while the 49ers would get Wilkerson, the 20th overall pick (where they might be able to land Lawson or Kevin Dodd or Laquon Treadwell or another mid-round choice) as well as some other picks. Et voila!"
This scenario is a very interesting one for the Jets, who would love the 49ers’ seventh pick in the first round as one of the three quarterbacks should be available for them at that spot. Depending on who the Los Angeles desire with the first overall pick could decide a lot of things in the early first round as the Jets appear to like both Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch.
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The Jets certainly seem highly interested in moving up in the first round, and if Wilkerson like San Francisco like Barrows believes, he would likely sign a long-term deal there. It looks like there could certainly be the workings of a trade between the Jets and the 49ers, and it will be interesting to see if the Jets do indeed move Wilkerson to move up in the first-round.