After the Jets completed Day 1 of the 2016 NFL Draft, GM Mike Maccagnan was asked if it was less likely the team would trade franchise player Muhammad Wilkerson considering the first round was complete.
"To attempt to trade a franchise tag player, it's a little more complicated," Maccagnan said. "You can't trade the player, per se, because he hasn't signed his tender yet. I think without getting into the details on it, I would simply say from that standpoint if you were to do a trade, it would probably be in advance of the draft as opposed to during the draft."
Wilkerson, who racked up a career-high 12 sacks last season while earning his first Pro Bowl invite, is recovering from a broken fibula he suffered in the team's Week 17 contest vs. the Bills. Since 2013, he has led the team in sacks (28.5). When asked if it wasn't likely that Wilkerson would be traded, Maccagnan indicated that Wilkerson would likely remain with the Green & White.
"Understanding the logistics of everything involved, I don't expect to surprise any of you guys. So if you feel safe to feel that...yes, I would not envision that happening."
