On Monday, it was reported that the Jets had decided to franchise tag impending free-agent defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.

Now on Tuesday, it’s been reported exactly what franchise tag the Jets plan to place on Wilkerson. According to multiple reports, New York has filed the paperwork to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on the team’s 2011 first-round pick.

The New York Post was the first to report the news of the tag.

Related What Muhammad Wilkerson getting tagged does to the Jets salary cap

Ok, so… what’s the difference between a non-exclusive tag and an exclusive one? Here’s the breakdown:

The financial situation is similar (one-year worth the top-five highest paid at his position). Once tagged, Wilkerson will be given a one-year contract worth $15.7 million.

Now, what actually is permitted with the tagged Wilkerson is where things differ.

If Wilkerson had been given the “exclusive franchise tag,” the only team that could negotiate a salary with him would be the Jets. No other team, at any point in time, could talk about a contract with Wilkerson. Only Wilkerson, and the Jets representatives, could discuss the parameters of a new deal.

Essentially, the exclusive franchise tag gives the player’s team (the Jets) all of the negotiating rights to the exclusive player (Wilkerson).

The “non-exclusive franchise tag,” on the other hand, differs in exactly that regard. Other teams outside of the Jets can negotiate a contract/offer sheet with Wilkerson, in other terms, a long-term deal.

Under the non-exclusive tag, if a deal with another team is reached, the Jets would have the opportunity to match that contract. If the Jets were to elect not to match that offer, the new team would be awarded Wilkerson, and the Jets, in turn, would be awarded two first-round picks from the team that gets Wilkerson,

Hypothetical situation– Say the Giants, under this non-exclusive tag, agree to a six-year, $110-million deal with Wilkerson. Once Wilkerson agrees to the deal, the deal goes to the Jets. The Jets then have the decision to match, or pass.

If they match, Wilkerson stays with the Jets under the exact deal the Giants offered. If the Jets choose not to match, Wilkerson is awarded to the Giants, and in return, the Jets get two first-round picks from the Giants.

Now, is it likely any team ponies up a mega-money deal plus two first-round picks for Wilkerson? Absolutely not. But now it’s at least an option.

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Connor Hughes is the New York Jets beat writer for the USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. He can be reached on Twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes), or via email (chughes@usatoday.com)