Muhammad Wilkerson was once a hell of a player. That’s in evidence by the fact that the New York Jets were paying him $20 million per season. Although the news came out last week that the Jets were cutting him, that apparently won’t be official until today.
And where will Wilkerson land? It could well be with the Green Bay Packers.
Despite announcing it last week, the #Jets haven’t officially released DE Muhammad Wilkerson yet. That should happen today… and I’m told his first free agent visit is likely to be with the #Packers. New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine could help rejuvenate his career.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2018
Wilkerson played under current Packers’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine in 2011 and 2012, when he was the Jets’ DC. Those were Wilkerson’s first two years in the league.
Wilkerson blossomed into a double-digit sack guy in 2013, when he had 10.5. He put up 12 sacks in 2015 and then apparently lost interest. Wilkerson’s past two seasons were mediocre, with 4.5 and 3.5 sacks.
That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s done though. There are plenty of rumors that Wilkerson just didn’t like playing for the Jets. While that’s somewhat of a red flag, he clearly liked playing for Pettine. And that’s what is bringing him to Green Bay.
Would we take Wilkerson?
Hell yeah.
A defensive line of Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark and Muhammad Wilkerson would likely be the best defensive line the Packers have fielded since guys like Reggie White, Sean Jones and Gilbert Brown were playing up front.
The question is can the Packers afford Wilkerson?
A guy who was making $20 million a season probably isn’t signing a one-year, $2 million deal. That’s the Ted Thompson special right there. The Packers are currently waiting around to pay Aaron Rodgers a ton of money. They have about $30 million tied up in three receivers, two of which don’t warrant their $10 million price tags. They have $11 million invested in Clay Matthews this year. They’ve got a $10 million cap hit coming courtesy of Nick Perry. Daniels is near another $10 million cap hit.
So, sure. We would love for the Packers to sign Wilkerson. He’s 28 and, under Pettine, likely has some good years left. But what is the salary? And if it’s substantial, then we’ll be looking for the other shoe to drop because the Packers aren’t flush with cap space.
How does 3 years 24 mil sound Mo? Good, ill have Ted pick you up at the airport.
People with dementia shouldn’t drive
3 years 24 million?
Ok, whose in charge of drug testing here?
You don’t think he will still get paid? I guarantee you he gets 7-8 a year even with being cut. Hes the best DL out on the market. Shit he might even still get 10-12 a year.
Well…i didn’t say he wouldn’t get paid. What i am saying, is that when you compare what he was paid the last two years with his production, it would be foolish to pay him that much in a multi year deal.
Either he lost his skills and his motivation, or……he just gave up on the Jets in spite of being paid 37 million, and QUIT on his team.
Which of these scenario’s do you find attractive in a free agent?
Now…as far as the Packers, for which i’m speaking on. The Packers have enough overpaid players of their own, there is no need to add another one with blatant flags.
He’s clearly a bigger risk than Martellus Bennett was.
This isn’t complicated.
Huge talent, huge risk.
He is obviously a perfect scheme fit as he is 3-4 all the way and even previously played with Pettine. A front of Daniels, Clark, and Wilkerson would be quite good. If. IF.
Some of these big guys get out of shape and just never get back into shape. Especially if already incredibly rich. He does not seem to much care what people think of him as evidenced by his behavior. Motivated for Pettine? Maybe but he did go ahead and let down ALL of his previous teammates selfishly.
In 2015 form he would be a game-changer likely pulling the Packers D up 10 spots due to him alone.
Packers don’t have a lot of room on the cap… but… they are set to otherwise spend 10 million dollars on a #3 WR… who is not a very good #3. Let that one sink in. I think Wilkerson would be a better and cheaper investment that Randall Cobb. Lose Cobb and the passing offense will not diminish. Wilkerson COULD greatly raise the D performance.
HUGE risk but maybe a good one.
Let’s put it this way: I’m a Vikings fan and I am hoping you do not get Wilkerson on the team.
I’m a packers fan and I really really hope the Vikings sign Cousins
Since replacing Griffin to start the 2015 season, Cousins ranks third among qualifying NFL quarterbacks in completion percentage (67.0) and sixth in passer rating (97.5) — rivaling two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in both categories. Over that 48-game sample size, he also ranks an impressive fifth in adjusted net yards per attempt, a discerning metric that rewards a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio and punishes sacks taken. Cousins is just the 11th quarterback in history to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark in three consecutive seasons, joining a host of current and future Hall of Famers.
With a patchwork offensive line, no legit RB, and total replacement of the WRs with inferiors and a constantly injured TE…..
I am surprised you, a Packers fan, would hope the Vikings sign him. But, thank you.
Cousins is a GREAT qb…….
Is ONE guy taking up as much cap space as he will require I the Vikings best interest?
From my outside view the Vikings are much more of a treat to the packers with thier current philosophy of BEAST defense and SOLID ALL AROUND team. Cousins contract will no doubt change the structure of that team. So if he is going to make it work he better do it this year before the cash dries up.
Would Cousins have been the difference maker this year? I say no. But who knows.
Detroit has a high statistics (high price) QB too…how does that work out for them
It is not an “either/or” situation. Yes, the Vikings have the #1 defense, a BEAST Defense as you put it and a solid all around team. But they have that WITH a lot of cap space as well. They do not need to give up one (defense) to get another (QB).
A football analyst did a cap/contract study and determined the Vikings can sign Cousins and still next couple years re-sign Hunter, Kendricks, Barr, and Diggs who are the only critical free agents coming up the next couple years.
So, really, it is should we have a beast D and Keenum and a free agent like Sheldon Richardson or should we have a beast D and Cousins.
Oh, and is Detroit better off with Stafford or with some journeyman QB? The answer is obvious. Hey… didn’t that Stafford guy beat the Packers twice last year? No wonder why you wish Detroit did not have him. And no wonder why you are hoping the Vikings do not sign Cousins….
I like it here better when your locked up.
I know…..save all that shit that you spew….for a day when/if the queens ever actually win something.
You forgot Santana Dotson as part of that line with Brown, White & Jones
Huge red flag here … Jets paid him star qb money per year, 20million, and he didnt perform because
“Wilkerson just didn’t like playing for the Jets”.
He had 20million reasons to be happy and perform and still couldnt do it.
Yeah, he sounds like a winner. Lets throw away the little under the cap money we have, so we can get another Marty Bennett-type, who will find a reason he really doesnt like playing in Green Bay.
Here is one.. Mike McCarthy.
CZ has most of it right, especially the red flag, although i doubt he was at 20/year. Maybe in the neighborhood though.
Lets look at this with some voice of reason, I don’t know if anyone will agree, but i’m going to list….the problems with this cat.
1) Is anyone surprised the Jets don’t want anything to do with him? The Jets payed this man 37 million dollars the last 2 years, for that investment they got 1 forced fumble, 8 sacks, 1 pick, 8 runs stuffed. That’s a lot of cheese to fit on that small cracker. Is it any wonder why the Jets would cut him, and also save themselves 11 in cap hit for 2018?
2) 2 years of slowly regressing production. (No i’m not talking about Cobb, he’s 3 years in). Some say
Wilkerson just shut it down, that he just doesn’t like playing for the Jets. That’s interesting, a team pays you 37 million…..and you don’t feel like giving it your all…big fucking red flag. The other thing it could be is he got his money, isn’t hungry anymore, except for the occasional buffet. Just isn’t motivated anymore, and possibly, he just isn’t that good anymore.
What ever the case for his lack of production. It doesn’t scream out to me…PAY THIS MAN!!! Besides, even though the Jets paid huge money, it looks like he gave up on his team and his team mates and Jets fans for the last 2 years.
If anything, he needs to be on a one year prove it deal for not much more than the vet minimum, regardless of his last contract. You don’t determine his pay on how much he was paid before, you pay him on his production. If that isn’t enough money for him, shake his hand and thank him for stopping by.
We signed a free agent last season who quit on his team and team mates and paid him over 6 million. And this guy shows more quitter flags than Bennett did.
I’m not in a hurry to go 2 for 2.
:)
“That’s a lot of cheese to fit on that small cracker”
LOL
I wish I could write like that!
Hilarious!
Just curious, PF4L, who are 4 or 5 names you like in free agency this particular season??? because you seem to be critical of every player in the NFL at all times. Mo Wilkerson is a top level free agent & 28 years old
Well, let me explain it this way my friend. This article is about Wilkerson coming to G. B. as a potential free gent signing. So in turn, the 1st thing i’m going to do is analyze him, see what he’s about, what he’s done, etc.
So to that end i voiced my opinion. You can look at him as a top level free agent if you’d like. I looked at him….in present time reality. If your so inclined…(A) look at his recent history and explain to me how he is a top level free agent. (B) Tell me where i’m wrong in describing what i see in him. (PLEASE.)
I’m not always critical as far as free agents, i have been positive about past free agents i would have liked the Packers to sign. Last year, when the Bennett signing happened, i wrote that i had a problem with the warning signs he gives you as a player and a man (Howard replied to that post). But i also acknowledged his skills that he could bring and how prolific the offense could be again. We lost A-Z on that deal.
Also, i’m not a big fan of saying hey…..lets sign him, lets sign that guy, and that guy. OR….thats draft him, or that guy, and that guy, etc. There are more intangibles to a free agent, than just signing him, it’s also about how long, how much, player history, etc. I don’t do the draft predictions because i think hoping they draft this player or that player is a waste of time, much like an “EXPERTS” mock draft predictions.
What i usually do……Is i wait until they select the draft picks, because now they are Green Bay Packers property. For free agents, if were bringing someone in, then i’m going to check him out and maybe even write what i think about it and i’ll continue to do so.
Thank you for understanding.
PF4L here is a list of 7 free agents I wouldn’t mind seeing in GB
7.) Adrian Clayborn, DE
6.) Justin Pugh, RG
5.) Teddy Bridgewater, (at the right price)
4.) Star Lotulelei, DT (value)
3.) Sammy Watkins, WR (can’t afford him)
2.) Andrew Norwell, RG
1.) Muhammed Wilkerson, DE – The only name on the list I’d over-pay at a 3 or 4 year deal
Leaders like Pettine can fix attitude
Bill Parcells’ “Planet theory” … “There are only so many guys on the planet with a certain size, strength & athleticism”
Oh, & I’ll add my guy!!!
8.) Justin McCray, OL
& one more good one!
9.) Xavier Su’a-Filo, G
SWEET
Watch…
Wilkerson agent will reduce his demand to 10 million next year,
and a lot of teams will want him then,
but before they can interview him,
Kraft will somehow sign him for peanuts.
hmmmm
… and also get a free Jets playbook
How can the number one defense give up 31 unanswered points in the NFCC game and still claim they are a number one defense ? Answer me that killer.
Sorry Bob, the lonely boy will not comment on the NFCCG…at all.
Although he says he’s brave and confidant…..lol
Maybe it still hurts too much and he’s just a trolling dickhead.
Go figure.
Wilkerson will have a 9mil dead cap hit for the Jets, Don’t know if it is a one year hit or the next three totaled.
It’s one year Dennis, to take a hit like that, they really don’t like this guy….at all.
Killer…next couple of years? Those names are all next year’s free agents alone.
No doubt the packers sucked this year. That was the he opportunity for Minnesota or Detroit. And they couldn’t seize it. With or without the most overpaid qb in the league. So yes please give cousins 30 million a year.
Well, actually… we are both correct.
Barr, Kendricks, Diggs, and Hunter are all free agents after this year alone as you say. However, there are no important pending free agents the following year… therefore they are also the only critical free agents the next couple of years as I said.
Yes, the Packers did suck this year. The Vikings did seize the opportunity, sweeping the Packers (including a shut out), winning the division and advancing to the NFC championship. Yes, they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions in their home stadium but the Packers had been sitting at home a long time by then. The Lions seized the opportunity to also sweep the Packers.
Then you derailed a little there with “With or without the most overpaid qb in the league”. We were, factually, “without” the most overpaid qb in the league. Keenum only cost us 2 million last year.
Now Cousins will become, very briefly, the highest paid QB. But shortly thereafter Rodgers will be paid more than him. And Cousins under worse conditions has outperformed Rodgers over the last three years. Cousins arrow is pointing up and Rodgers’ is pointing down. Rodgers is 5 years older, has health questions, and has personality dysfunctions. Yet, incredibly, Rodgers will soon be making more money than him!
And you taunt that Cousins will be the most overpaid QB in the league! Brace for poetic justice….
If just simply beating the packers is your end game..then yes.. the Vikings seized thier opportunity. However in a season that had the potential of playing a HOME superbowl, that did not have any resistance from a Rodgers less packers I would would have higher expectations before declaring that a seized opportunity. Just saying.
The Lions had the highest paid QB for awhile what did that get them? Playoffs? No. But they beat the packers. Legendary.
Certainly Rodgers will be the highest paid QB. In what world would Cousins make more than Rodgers? Let’s restart every NFL team from scratch tomorrow.
“With the #1 pick…..Kirk Cousins”
TRUTH be told…..All the motivation in the world to win the NFCCG, Super Bowl at home, and maybe, just maybe…the franchise 1st Super Bowl victory.
LOL…..What do the queen players do? Shit the bed and play dead, and act like they’d rather be watching the game at home, like they usually do.
If the queens want to get serious and win a Chanpionship, i have 3 letters.
C F L
As i’ve stated, the lonely boy takes forever to say nothing.
But i haven’t heard a word from her concerning the NFCCG against the Eagles.
Any thoughts, pumpkin?
But PF4L the queens have the number one defense don’t ya know. LOL
I know very little my friend, and i understand even less.
This one is for the killer, https://truthuncensored.net/stand-for-your-mug-shot-list-nfl-teams-that-have-most-player-arrests/