Wilkerson's contract has nothing to do with Sheldon, I don't know why you added him to your post. I do see you are trying to make some point but that point has nothing to do with Wilkerson.
Sheldon has everything to do with Wilkerson 1. Williams and Sheldon give us two starting DEs (very good ones) leaving Mo expendable 2. Sheldon will be a UFA next year, whatever we do with Mo changes the odds / ability of this team to retain Sheldon 3. Another poster tried to present a choice between Mo and Snacks, Sheldon was part of my response that we can lock up Snacks and two other quality players (Sheldon being one of them) with the money that Mo would command to stay. If you read through the posts in this thread you would see what my post was all about.
1. I can say the same exact thing about Sheldon here. Also, on a 4 man front you can have them all on the lineman and cause havoc. the Jets again do not always run a 3-4 defense. Also, if you really want to keep the 3-4, Leonard Williams isn't that far off in terms of weight and playing NT. That would be sick to see Leonard play NT, he could have a Kris Jenkins like effect. 2. Sheldon has an option in 2017, we have 2 more seasons with Sheldon under contract, not 1. Sheldon needs to stay out of trouble first and foremost before you go and give him a large sum of cash. 3. I am not paying 7.25 for Snacks. I think the Jets should try and find a way to keep both Sheldon and Mo. Find a way to make it work. Revis in 2 years his contract won't be nearly the same. Same for Brick and Mangold. We won't have a lot of expensive players on the books and more than likely in the first 2 years the Jets already gave Mo a good amount of cash.
short of extenuating circumstances (coaching/system changes, off the field problems, chemistry/attitude issues), you don't let elite talent walk in the prime of their careers. good teams retain those players, and build with them as the foundation. losing them would be like spinning the wheels without going anywhere. Jets should tag Wilk, and work out a long term extension. in terms of Sheldon, i don't trust him as a long term solution for this team. put the 5th year option on him, then reassess his value internally and externally after that 5th year (prior to 2018 season).
In general you're right, but when that talent overvalues itself and wants more than they're worth or the team can afford to pay, then that changes things. If things can be worked out so Mo can be kept at a reasonable price and the team can still address some of its needs prior to the draft, great. If not, then I'd rather see multiple positions addressed in FA and Mo traded and allow Mac to reshape the team in the way he wants with the additional pick or picks for Mo.
if a team can't afford to keep an elite player in their prime, then they haven't planned well. it's also rare that a player is looking for well above market value, as they are unlikely to get that value externally as well. it's not necessarily in the players best interest. i don't believe either case is in play here. there's no reason not to get this deal done. just a matter of determining exact market value fair to both sides, and working out the guaranteed aspect imo. i think it will all come together, and the timing is right this offseason.
When one management team has been in place for 4-5 years or longer, then that is true. In the Jets's situation, it isn't. Tanny drafted Mo, then was fired. Idzik was only on the job for 2 years (thank God!). Now this is Mac's second year. He can't help what his predecessors did, and he's trying to fix things as best he can, but he hasn't been dealt a good hand. I can't speak to how rare it is. I know that Revis certainly did, and it appears as if Mo is now. I do believe it's in play. Idzik tried to re-sign/extend Mo for at least one year, maybe two. Now, it could be that Idzik lowballed Mo, as he was/is a cheap bastard, but it could also be that Mo is asking for ridiculous money. The fact that Mac spoke with Mo and his representatives when he took the job and immediately saw that it was going to be a long, tough negotiation speaks volumes to me. The fact that they haven't been able to work out a deal so far does as well. I think that Mo is looking for JJ Watt money or close, and imo, he just isn't worth it. He's a very good player, but he isn't "great" or "elite" imo, yet I think he wants "great" or "elite" money. Now if he can consistently have a season like he did this past year every year, then I think he will have achieved that "great" or "elite" level, but he hasn't yet imo. Rather than overpay him, I'd rather the Jets sign him to a one year "show me" deal. If he can have another season like last year, then sign him long term and give him top dollar gladly. I disagree that there is no reason to not get this deal done. There's a tight cap, other top FAs on the team that the team would like to keep, and seemingly, Mo wanting a huge deal. I would love nothing more than for you to be right about this and the team be able to re-sign Mo for a reasonable deal. I just don't see it happening unfortunately.
