So what is a fair deal for Mo Wilkerson?
San Diego Chargers defender Corey Liuget, another 3-4 end, just got a five-year extension worth $58.5 million with $30 million guaranteed.
Another 3-4 end, the New Orleans Saints’ Cameron Jordan, just signed a five-year, $60 million deal worth a reported $33.8 million guaranteed.
Are these deals good benchmarks for Wilkerson? To a degree. These are both good players, but Wilkerson is a little better.
Last year, Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt, another 3-4 player, got a six-year, $100 million contract extension that includes $51.9 million guaranteed.
Forget about the Ndamukong Suh contract with the Miami Dolphins. That is so high, it’s unfair to the Jets to even bring that deal into the conversation.
So to me, the landing spot for the Jets and Wilkerson, is halfway between those two recent 3-4 end deals and Watt. Mo is very good, but he’s not as good as Watt — few players are now, or were in history.
If a soon-to-be 30-year-old cornerback can get $39 million guaranteed from the Jets, why can’t Wilkerson? It’s a fair request, but it’s probably not going to happen.
How about meeting in the middle of Jordan ($33.8 million guaranteed) and Revis ($39 million guaranteed)?
Give Mo between $36-37 million guaranteed in a five-year deal, and get it over with.
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