GIANTS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

There’s no denying that Muhammad Wilkerson underachieved last season after grabbing his big payday. The cause for his brutal play in 2016 is debatable. Was he not fully recovered from offseason leg surgery? Did he become content with all that cash? At this point, it’s immaterial. Wilkerson must return to his 2015 Pro Bowl form or the Jets won’t hesitate to get rid of him after this season (thanks the structure of his contract).

Scouts that saw Wilkerson at Temple Pro Day weren’t exactly impressed by his physique. Wilkerson evidently disagreed that he’s out of shape (see: predictable sweaty treadmill post on social media).

The bottom line is that Wilkerson has proven in the past that he can be a game wrecker. If he can reclaim that form by getting consistent pressure on the quarterback, the Jets defense will be in business again.

The other, newer Mo needs to make a difference too for the Jets to be playoff contenders. Morris Claiborne has the pedigree (former No. 6 overall pick), but has never been able to put together a full 16-game season. Claiborne’s talent in the past couple years has been evident, but the man is damn near always injured. The Jets signed Claiborne to a low-risk, high-reward one-year deal. If he can stay healthy and play to his ability for a full season, it would make a world of difference for a secondary that frankly wasn’t very good last season. l LOUISIANA LIGHTNING Excuse me while I laugh at the notion that the Jets should pass up Leonard Fournette simply because running back isn’t their biggest need. Sure, Mike Maccagnan has more pressing positional concerns. Sure, Bowles currently has a capable backfield with Bilal Powell and Matt Forte, but the Jets, frankly, would be nuts to pass up on Fournette, who would be an immediate difference maker, unless they can accumulate more draft capital by trading down from the No. 6 pick.

It’s smart business for Maccagnan to stockpile picks given the dearth of talent on the roster, but if he stays put and Fournette is still on the board, he has to be the pick. Maccagnan didn’t overthink it a couple years ago when he took the best player on the board (Leonard Williams). He should take the same approach this time if he can’t find a smart deal to trade down.

Fournette would instantly become the vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns vs. Jets at New Engand Patriots