New York Jets: 3 Pro Bowl locks for the 2017 season
2. Muhammad Wilkerson
I’ve written about the 6-4, 305-pound defensive tackle a lot recently and with good reason. Wilkerson is one of the three best players on the entire team and when healthy is a wrecking ball along the defensive line. A former Pro Bowler (2015), the six-year veteran is another talented player that needs to rebound from a very disappointing 2016 campaign.
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Wilkerson suffered a broken right leg against Buffalo in the 2015 season finale and the injury really seemed to hamper him all last year. His sacks dropped from 12 in 2015 to only 4.5 last season and his solo tackles dipped as well (39 to 33). His play against the run was mediocre at best and he just did not seem to have the same burst and explosion off the line. It was quite a frustrating season for him.
However, by all accounts from this year’s OTAs and minicamps, Wilkerson has recovered nicely from his leg surgery of 18 months ago and seems like his old self again, ready to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. His motivation factor should be through the roof because the fully guaranteed portion of the $86 million pact he signed a year ago runs out this coming season.
Expect Wilkerson to return to Pro Bowl form this coming season as he continues to put the negative effects of that broken leg in the rear view mirror. Even though the Jets aren’t expected to win many games in 2017, it will be fun to watch Wilkerson dominate opponents once again.