Muhammad Wilkerson Rumors: Packers Will Be DE's 1st Visit in Free Agency

Free-agent defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson will visit the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Silverstein reported Tuesday. 

Although Wilkerson is meeting with multiple teams, Silverstein reported the Packers will be his first official visit.

The New York Jets announced Feb. 28 they released Wilkerson, and the move became official Monday. As Pro Football Focus noted, Wilkerson's performance had declined in recent seasons:

After finishing with a career-high 12 sacks in 2015, the 28-year-old posted eight combined sacks in 2016 and 2017. NJ Advance Media's Connor Hughes reported in December that Wilkerson was causing problems behind the scenes as well by showing up late to team meetings on occasion and in some instances not appearing at all.

The Packers tied for 17th in team sacks (37) but were ninth in adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders, so rushing the passer wasn't an area of clear weakness for Green Bay in 2017. The team does, however, lack a dynamic pass-rusher along the defensive line, which is where Wilkerson would potentially help.

"You have to have a dominant pass rush," general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the NFL Scouting Combine, per the Wisconsin State Journal's Jason Wilde. "You look at the teams that have been successful, that’s where it starts." 

Signing Wilkerson would fit with that strategy.

Wilkerson also has experience playing under the Packers' new defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine. Pettine occupied the same role with the Jets during Wilkerson's first two seasons in the league, 2011 and 2012.

That relationship may give the Packers hope the 2015 Pro Bowler can return to form in 2018 if he were to arrive in Green Bay.