In the last several days since being released by the New York Jets, former Pro Bowl defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has been making the rounds in free agency, holding visits with a few teams around the league. He's doing so to scope the level of interest in his services before the start of the free agency period.

Wilkerson is one of the better defensive ends on the open market that could immediately step in and be a major contributor to a franchise. With that in mind, Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Oakland Raiders are believed to be holding some sort of interest in the 28-year-old.

Heading into this offseason, Oakland has a pressing need to address their defense that had its fair share of struggles this past season. They ranked just 23rd overall and 26th against the pass. Although the bulk of their issues came in the secondary, the Raiders also did not generate nearly enough of a pass-rush presence, placing 24th in the league with 31 total team sacks. In fact, Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin accounted for more than half of that with 18.5 combined.

Wilkerson may have experienced a notable decline in production over the last two seasons with just 8.0 sacks, the change of scenery could help him get back on track. Prior to signing his five-year, $86 million deal with the New York Jets in the summer of 2016, he had been regarded as one of the top pass rushers in the league with double-digit totals in two out of the previous three campaigns.

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Muhammad Wilkerson, Raiders
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If the Raiders get an opportunity to host a visit with Wilkerson, the team could present a unique opportunity to join a talented roster. What should be noted is that the front office is a bit in a bind financially with just $19.1 million in salary cap space, and adding the veteran defensive end could require committing to him with a sizeable chunk of that. These next few days should be telling if Oakland will have a chance to lure him in.