Joined: Apr. 2017
Posts: 345
Likes: 234
While Wheeler has been a late bloomer, of sorts, and could have some more 80+ Pts seasons in him, the fact remains that moving forward we are only going to see a decline. Even if it is slower than most and even if Wheeler can continue to stay healthy, there is really no situation under which this is a good signing - but it may have been the best they could get at this time. Should they have done it? That will be a question we can answer in 4/5 years but I think the big AAV at the back end of this deal will come back to bite the Jets.
This is a good salary for a perennial 80+ Pts player but is it reasonable to expect that as he moves on to his age 33 season (at the start of the contract), let alone his age 36/37 seasons at the back end of the contract.
I feel like a better offer could have been had, particularly with the 5y length. This AAV for 3y would have been ok (but still not great), but extending it to 5y I would have tried to keep the Cap Hit around $7M AAV at the most. With Connor, Trouba, Laine all needing new contracts in 2019, these dollars are going to make a difference.