The New York Jets have cut bait with defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, the team announced on Wednesday. The Linden, New Jersey native Wilkerson has spent seven seasons with the Jets after they selected him with the 30th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Wilkerson went on to make the 2015 Pro Bowl and has been named a second-team All-Pro twice (2013 and 2015).
We have released DL Muhammad Wilkerson. pic.twitter.com/NhLfoREpLK
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 28, 2018
The relationship between Wilkerson and the organization soured a bit in 2017 after Wilkerson was reportedly late to a team meeting in December. Wilkerson was benched and held out the last three games of the season all but spelling out that his days in a Jets’ uniform were numbered.
Wilkerson was due to count $20 million against the Jets’ 2018 salary cap after signing a five-year, $86 million contract in 2016 after what was his best season as a pro in 2015 when he had 12 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Wilkerson’s 28 games over the last two seasons don’t suggest that kind of potential as he’s managed only eight sacks in that time. There will be interest as he is only 28-years-old and could still have something to provide a team in need of a defensive lineman with a once high ceiling.
