With the 2016 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, one storyline to pay particularly close attention to is New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. The Pro Bowl DE is entering the final year of his contract and the Jets are willing to trade him before losing him for nothing in free agency next year.
But interested parties will likely have to meet Wilkerson's contract demands (best guess: $50 million guaranteed) on top of compensating New York, who are probably asking for a minimum of a first-round pick in return. Which teams could stomach all that?
Of all the possible landing spots, the Chicago Bears may make the most sense. General manager Ryan Pace still has north of $23 million in salary cap space left, even after outspending the majority of teams in free agency this year. That's more than enough to fit in Wilkerson's 2016 franchise tag number of $15.7 million and the team has enough space to sign him to a long-term deal.
While all of Chicago's impressive defensive signings this offseason - Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Akiem hicks - will improve the team's front seven, none of them will help the pass-rush. That trio has combined for just 24.5 career sacks and the Bears finished the 2015 season ranked just No. 22 in total sacks (35.0).
Generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks was such a problem for Chicago last year that head coach John Fox has even hinted that the Bears are thinking about pass-rushers in the upcoming draft.
Wilkerson would help address that need right away. The 26-year-old is coming off a 12.0 sack season and has posted double digit sack numbers twice in the last three seasons. In terms of fit, he's everything Fox and Pace are looking for in a disruptive edge rusher. But prying him away from New York will not be easy.
Tight end Martellus Bennett is now with the New England Patriots, limiting the attractive veteran players Chicago could include in a possible deal to sweeten the pot. But the Bears do hold the No. 11 pick in the draft. Would that be enough to entice the Jets? It would give them two selections in the first 20 picks.
Perhaps we'll know more about New York's thinking closer to the draft. For now, keep an eye on the Bears.
