He is tough, athletic and very strong and will be a physical mismatch against many linemen he will face. I really like his upside and the thought of him getting stronger and cleaner from a technique standpoint is pretty scary.
I had him as one of the primary guys the Jets would select early on but as we moved through the process, more and more teams became intrigued by him and he was expected to go in the 15-20 range.
But after team’s started reaching for needs, it allowed Wilkerson to slide down to the Jets. I never thought he would be available at the 30th pick but now that we have him, I couldn’t be happier.
He is more talented and has better upside than the prospects I targeted (Brooks Reed and Jabaal Sheard) in my recent mock drafts. Hopefully the Jets can snag another pass rusher because while Wilkerson can bring the heat, they need a player like Reed or Sheard who can bring pressure from the second level as well.
Rookie defensive linemen usually need some time to develop. They are accustomed to overwhelming lesser players with their physical ability in college and learn quickly once they hit the pros that superior technique and hard work are needed to excel.
Where Wilkerson is ahead of other, similar prospects is his strength. Most young guys need at least a year or two in a pro conditioning program before they can compete in the NFL but not Wilkerson.
He is already plenty strong in his upper and lower body and the prospect of him getting stronger and more refined is also pretty scary. If this guy puts in the work and improves as a player, he can be a dominant defensive end.
But in addition to getting stronger, he will need to improve his hand quickness and leverage. As a big guy, he has a habit of playing high and that makes him easier to block.
He will have to improve his technique in these areas and must learn more moves. He has a good bull rush and a nice rip move but to be a standout pass rusher, he will have to add a swim and an “up and under” move to keep linemen off balance.
When you watch film on him, you see consistent penetration when he slants across the guard. He may not have the quickness to beat tackles out of their stance but he has enough to beat guys on the interior and will make his share of plays in the backfield against them.
I like Wilkerson’s versatility. He can stay on the field all three downs and move inside to DT when the Jets shift into a 4-3. Rex Ryan is going to move him around (inside and outside) and from one side to the other in order to capitalize on mismatches, which will make him even more dangerous.
Wilkerson probably won’t be ready to step in as a starter, which is why bringing Shaun Ellis back would be ideal. The rookie could learn behind him as they work him in to their rotation.
But Ellis is a free agent and at 33, the Jets will only bring him back at a cap-friendly price. He still has something left in the tank and is such a classy pro that having him around to mentor the rookie would really help the kid’s development. But the Jets could easily go in another direction once free agency hits if they cannot get Ellis at a good price.
Wilkerson already is a good run stopper and powerful edge player. Whether he can be dominant depends on his work ethic and desire to be better, two things we will have to evaluate over time.
University of Miami defensive coordinator, Mark D’Onofrio, really likes him as a prospect. Before moving to Miami, D’Onofrio was Temple’s defensive coordinator and he had a lot of praise for Wilkerson.
He liked his football IQ and said that he absorbed information quickly and had a good understanding of what he was doing within the context of the overall scheme. He also liked his progression.
Wilkerson improved each year he played at Temple and while he is already a solid prospect, we have to remember, he is a junior entry and had he gone back for his senior year, we could have been talking about him as a top-10 pick next year. That is how much talent he has.
“The thing to remember about Muhammad is his upside”, said D’Onofrio. “He is just scratching the surface of his potential and he has made big strides every season.”
I was concerned about Wilkerson’s temperament but D’Onofrio believes he has the intensity and fire to play in the pros. “Muhammad became vocal and animated on the field. He let our guys know if we were not playing well.”
The Linden, NJ native has drawn comparisons to Ty Warren, Trevor Pryce and even Leon Lett - all athletic, powerful players who had successful careers in the pros. Perhaps his best endorsement came from ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper who called Wilkerson the “best pick in the first round”.
Wilkerson was a great selection who fills an area of need and brings excellent value to the Jets who picked late in the first round for the second year in a row. Mike Tannenbaum and company did an excellent job with this pick and Wilkerson is someone who should be a standout player for years to come.
Written by Alan Levin