Although general manager Mike Maccagnan says that the Jets aren’t “actively pursuing” a trade involving Muhammad Wilkerson, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post that the team continues to quietly shop the defensive lineman, as we heard last week. There’s skepticism around the NFL that Gang Green will find a trade partner willing to meet the club’s asking price, but Costello suggests that Maccagnan has four weeks to resolve the situation, since trading Wilkerson becomes much trickier after the draft.
As Rich Cimini of ESPN.com outlines, trading Wilkerson and his $15.7MM would help the Jets solve their current cap crunch. However, Cimini points out that moving Wilkerson would mean letting go of the only player out of the team’s three highest-paid veterans who is still in his prime. Darrelle Revis and D’Brickashaw Ferguson round out the Jets’ top three cap numbers, and both players are arguably on the decline.
As we wait to see how Maccagnan moves forward in New York, let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFL’s East divisions…
- While it remains to be seen whether or not they’ll draft a quarterback this year, the Cowboys are interested in the possibility of adding a developmental signal-caller to their depth chart. One prospect who might fit that bill is Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, and Dallas held a private workout for him on Wednesday, per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Hackenberg will also work out for the Eagles next week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- The Giants left the door open for Tom Coughlin to assume a role within the organization after he stepped down as the team’s head coach, but it doesn’t sound like that will be happening. As Ryan Lazo of the New York Post details, Coughlin said in an appearance at Mike Francesa’s and Chris Russo’s reunion show that he doesn’t expect to be with the Giants “in any capacity this season.”
- Jasper Brinkley‘s one-year deal with the Giants is worth $1.8MM, and all but $100K of that money is guaranteed, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link).
- The Patriots added another tight end to their roster on Wednesday when they agreed to terms with ex-Jaguar Clay Harbor. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com takes a closer look at exactly what the Pats are getting in Harbor.
They will can d brick, after the draft. I think he is a June 1 cap hit and they are going to get Conklin or Spriggs and save 12-13 mill which they can use on Wilkerson if they can’t get a taker. They are in the hook for rebus for at least another year with guaranteed money. They would take a big hit so they may just keep him since they have to oh him anyway. Move him to safety or nickel if it gets worse. He did get beer and looked out of position a few times last year. Head scratcher but they all age at some point.