The New York Jets surprised everyone on Friday by signing defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson to a long-term extension.
Wilkerson, who had been franchise tagged and seemed almost certain to let the deadline pass without a deal, signed a multi-year deal, as confirmed by the team.
Official! #JetUp pic.twitter.com/xEEX1R3N1p
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 15, 2016
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported the terms of the deal.
#Jets 5-yr deal for Mo Wilkerson is for more than $85M, source said, with $54M in guarantees over 3 years. $37M fully guaranteed thru year 2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2016
Wilkerson led the Jets with 12 sacks in 2016 and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
As recently as last month, a long-term deal looked extremely unlikely. Clearly, the Jets decided it was time to pay up – or Wilkerson backed down on his threats to sit out the season and came to some middle ground.
