Free agent defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson has left the Green Bay Packers’ team facilities without signing a contract with the team.
However, it’s not time to panic just yet.
Tom Silverstein reports that Wilkerson’s visit wrapped up on Thursday and that “it went very well.” However, he also reports that Wilkerson is planning to visit other teams in the coming days. One of those teams will be the New Orleans Saints, according to Ian Rapoport, a team that has about $13 million more in salary cap space than the Packers. The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly in the mix as well, though they will be more cash-strapped than either of the other teams involved in the early running.
Silverstein also notes that a primary driver of the visit this week in Green Bay was for the team to gauge Wilkerson’s fit in Wisconsin and with the team and his level of motivation. He has familiarity with the team’s defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine, who was the coordinator for the New York Jets when Wilkerson was drafted. However, evaluating his willingness to go from a top market like New York to the smallest pro sports city in the country is an understandable concern.
The fact that the Packers let Wilkerson leave the facility without a contract should not be construed as the team losing interest in him, however. In fact, reports indicate that both sides remain very interested. Wilkerson has expressed a desire to play for a contending team, a description which certainly fits Green Bay well, and the familiarity with Pettine remains a significant draw. Furthermore, the financial situation and his market value remain uncertain at present, as both sides will likely continue negotiating over the coming days.
Wilkerson could of course pick a different franchise with which to sign a contract, but the Packers appear to remain very much in the running to land him. Expect more news on his status in the coming days as he takes his next few visits.