Should the Colts trade for Jets' Muhammad Wilkerson?

The Indianapolis Colts are pinning their season on nailing the draft, but one NFL insider is suggesting they trade away this draft to the New York Jets for Muhammad Wilkerson.

It is no secret that the Colts could use some help on the defensive side of the ball and could use an upgrade every single position. The Colts don’t do anything particularly well and need to find something to hang their hats on defensively. While the could look to the draft to cultivate a young talent, there might be a chance they could trade for an established young veteran.

The New York Jets might be looking to move one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, Muhammad Wilkerson. Over at the MMQB, Peter King has suggested that the Colts go ahead and trade their first and fourth round picks for Wilkerson. Here is what King had to say about Wilkerson:

"6. I think if you want Muhammad Wilkerson of the Jets, you’d better offer more than a low first-round pick. This is one of the five best defensive linemen in football, by any measure. He’s 26. Other than the fluky broken leg suffered at the end of last season, his health is fine. That injury is the only argument any team could make that Wilkerson is not worth, say, picks in the first and third or fourth round."

And here are his thoughts on the Colts pulling the trigger for that trade:

"7. I think the team that ought to go after Wilkerson is Indianapolis. No question. The Colts have a mediocre lot (Kendall Langford and Arthur Jones) with strong prospect Henry Anderson in their 3-4 defensive end scheme now. If I were GM Ryan Grigson, I’d offer the Jets my first-round and fourth-round picks this year (Nos. 18 and 116 overall) for Wilkerson. The Colts, with $19 million under the cap, have been saving cap room for the Andrew Luck contract. Wilkerson is the kind of special player for whom it’s worth performing major salary-cap surgery."

This is the same player the Jets placed the franchise tag on and owe $15.7. Wilkerson had 64 tackles, 12.0 sacks, forced two fumbles and defended seven passes in 2015. Wilkerson obviously wants a long term deal and one report indicated he was hoping for “J.J. Watt money” which would mean six-years, $100 million. That kind of deal would price him out of the Colt’s’ pocket book.

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Anyone who gets nervous when the “Colts” and “trading a first round pick” are mentioned has very good reason for it. The last time they traded a first round pick it resulted in Trent Richardson and the Colts donating downs to opponents every time he touched the ball. This wouldn’t be the same deal, however, as Wilkerson has proven to be a very effective player and one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL.

As for whether or not this would be a good fit, Wilkerson played left end for the Jets in a 3-4 scheme, so he would be a great fit and upgrade along the defensive line. However, this move would bench either Kendall Langford (who played very well last year) or Henry Anderson (who also played exceptionally before a torn ACL). Wilkerson is four years younger than Langford, and would therefore be an upgrade at all levels.

Pro Football Focus’ grades show that Wilkerson is great, but not enough better to warrant a big trade. PFF gave Wilkerson an 89.2 overall for last season. Anderson had an 83.6 while Langford finished with a 80.6. Wilkerson is a better player overall, but not so significantly better than he’d be worth a first and fourth round pick to produce a moderate improvement along the line.

It sounds like an intriguing move, but the proposed price in picks and the financial cost of a long term deal would be too much for the Colts to handle.

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Should the Colts trade for Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson?

By Evan Reller | Apr 4, 2016

The Indianapolis Colts are pinning their season on nailing the draft, but one NFL insider is suggesting they trade away this draft to the New York Jets for Muhammad Wilkerson.

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