Jets exercise 5th-year option on Sheldon Richardson

The New York Jets exercised the fifth-year option on the contract of defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, the team announced Monday.

Reports surfaced in April indicating that the Jets were planning to pick up the final year of Richardson's rookie contract, and the move has seemingly become official ahead of Monday's deadline.

The 25-year-old will now be under contract through the 2017 campaign.

With Muhammad Wilkerson facing an uncertain future heading into a season where he'll play under the franchise tag, a contract extension should eventually become a priority for Richardson.

The Missouri product racked up an impressive 16.5 sacks since joining the Jets as a first-round pick in 2013, doing well to establish himself as one of the league's most talented interior defensive lineman.