Muhammad Wilkerson’s Jets contract

The Jets have already exercised the fifth-year option on Richardson for 2017, as they did for Wilkerson in 2015.

But as with Wilkerson last offseason, Richardson’s contract talks will begin to heat up next offseason.

The maximum value of Wilkerson’s deal is $86 million, including $54 million in guaranteed pay (which is the important number in any NFL contract).

The Jets are giving Wilkerson $37 million fully guaranteed in 2016 and 2017 combined.

This season and how Williams and Richardson perform will surely go a long way toward determining what the Jets will do with Richardson.

So if Williams excels this season (or Richardson screws up again), and the Jets determine they can go with just Williams and Wilkerson, then maybe they’ll take that route.

Williams falling into their lap in last year’s draft gives the Jets some flexibility here.

But if the Jets want to lock up Richardson long-term, he surely is going to come at a higher price than $54 million guaranteed, presuming he continues to play well.