HEADLINES

Jonathan Bullard

South Notes: Jaguars, Reed, Panthers, Falcons

March 24th, 2016 at 10:40am CST by Luke Adams

While Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell appears confident that the team has improved its pass rush this offseason, it sounds like head coach Gus Bradley wouldn’t mind adding another pass rusher or two, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union details. Caldwell pointed to Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., and Sen’Derrick Marks as three players capable of getting after the quarterback that essentially weren’t a part of last year’s team (in some cases due to injuries). Bradley, meanwhile, suggests that Jacksonville will keep an eye on pass rushers during and after the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s South divisions:

  • In another O’Halloran piece, the Times-Union scribe notes that the Jaguars appear to have offered punter Bryan Anger a multiyear contract before signing Brad Nortman. Anger ultimately signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay.
  • The Panthers met with and worked out Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed this week, and will have him in for a visit next month, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter links). In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Todd McShay has Reed coming off the board at No. 19 to Buffalo, 11 spots before the Panthers’ first pick.
  • Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee is working out for the Falcons today, telling Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that it’s the first workout on his schedule. “From what they told me at the combine, they need a lot of speed on the defensive side of the ball,” Lee said. Interestingly, McShay’s mock draft from today has Atlanta nabbing Lee with the 17th overall pick.
  • The Titans are taking a close look at a couple University of Florida prospects, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, who writes that the team has worked out and met with inside linebacker Antonio Morrison and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard. Per McCormick, Tennessee has also put Northern Iowa cornerback Deiondre’ Hall through a workout.
  • Before his pro day, Campbell defensive tackle Greg Milhouse had a dinner meeting with the Saints, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Head coach Sean Payton said this week that adding to the defensive line is a top priority for New Orleans heading into the draft.

Jets Shopping Muhammad Wilkerson?

March 22nd, 2016 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Ever since the Jets placed the franchise tag on Muhammad Wilkerson – and even before that – the defensive lineman has been viewed as a potential trade candidate. With Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams in line for extensions of their own within the next few years, the Jets will have to make a decision on which defensive linemen they want to keep long-term.Muhammad Wilkerson

According to Tony Pauline at WalterFootball.com, the Jets appear to be at least exploring potential trade options for Wilkerson. Pauline says that “the word coming from Florida pro day” is that the Jets are shopping Wilkerson. However, Pauline cautions that whether or not the team will actually be able to find a suitable deal is another thing altogether.

Wilkerson, 26, enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2015, racking up a career-high 12 sacks and forcing three fumbles, to go along with 64 tackles. Arguably the best defensive player for the Jets last season, Wilkerson also earned his first Pro Bowl berth. However, he broke his leg during New York’s regular-season finale, and while that injury isn’t expected to sideline him at all next season, it may give potential suitors pause.

Additionally, having been franchised, Wilkerson is currently projected to earn a $15.701MM base salary in 2016. Any team trading for Wilkerson would presumably want to extend him beyond ’16, but that pricey franchise salary provides a guideline for what sort of money he’d be seeking on a long-term deal — it would be a very expensive proposition for a club to pay him that sort of money in addition to giving up trade assets for him.

The Jets will likely say they want Wilkerson in the mix for 2016 and beyond, and that could still end up happening, but as I noted late last night, comments from members of the organization hint that a trade remains a possibility. Owner Woody Johnson said on Monday that he wouldn’t be disappointed to see Wilkerson remain with the Jets for 2016, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for locking him up to a multiyear extension.

According to Pauline, the Jets would consider Gators defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard a potential draft-day target if they end up trading Wilkerson.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.