Rumors have swirled around that the New York Jets may be looking to trade defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, but Gang Green general manager Mike Maccagnan said that isn't part of the team's plans.
Maccagnan appeared on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio and said the team fielded offers on Wilkerson during the NFL Draft when the Jets were gauging the possibility of trading up, but he's not currently shopping the Jets prized defensive star.
"We're not actively shopping Mo. It's not part of our plans," Maccagnan told Kay, according to ESPN. "But, again, his name comes up periodically at times, but nothing active right now."
Wilkerson, who has been regarded as the best player on the team for the last two years, has not appeared at voluntary workouts as he searches for a contract extension.
Wilkerson's current pact is set to expire after the coming season, and it could be hard for the Jets to re-sign him under the current salary cap.
New York also drafted defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was highly regarded as the best player in the draft, which also laid credence to the speculation that Wilkerson could be on the block. The selection marked the fourth time in five years that the Jets selected a defensive player.
Maccagnan, who had a solid first draft at the helm of the Jets, doesn't want Wilkerson to go anywhere.
"Mo's a good player, he's part of this organization and he's currently under contract," he said. "We'd like to keep him in this organization. We just have to go through a process with him to figure out, you know, if we can find a middle ground."
Maccagnan said he didn't think of the long-term implications when he drafted Williams and he believes the team has a good problem on the defensive line.
"It's a good situation," Maccagnan said. "My thing is this: It's kind of up to [head coach] Todd [Bowles] to best utilize his resources at that position. Going forward, it doesn't really impact Mo directly in that sense."
Following a 4-12 finish last season, the Jets have undergone a major offseason overhaul.
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