The Dolphins’ 2023 offseason has already involved a major decision being made with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s fifth-year option being picked up.
Another important piece of accounting, in this case on the defensive side of the ball, is set to become a top priority for the team.
Miami is looking to sign defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a long-term extension, as detailed by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Dolphins elected to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason, which sets him up to earn $10.75M in 2023. A new contract could lower that figure, while ensuring he remains in South Beach for the foreseeable future.
Wilkins, the 13th overall pick in the 2019 draft, was the third DT to hear his name called. He entered the league with substantial expectations, and flashed his potential right away with a pair of sacks. The Clemson alum’s production took a dip the following year, but rebounded in 2021 when he notched a career-high 4.5 sacks.
By that point, he had established himself as a key starter on the Dolphins’ defensive front, but his playing time spiked in 2022.
Wilkins logged an 84% snap share this season, and his 955 snaps topped the league amongst interior defensive lineman. He put his time on the field to good use, totaling 98 tackles, the most recorded at his position in a single season since 1994.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder added 3.5 sacks and 15 pressures as he remained a disruptive presence in the passing game along with his success as a preeminent run stopper.
Those figures make the 27-year-old a clear extension candidate, though Jackson notes that guarantees could come up as a sticking point in negotiations. Wilkins will likely be eying a new deal which will place him near the top of the market, one which is comfortably headlined at the position by Aaron Donald.
Three other players (DeForest Buckner, Leonard Williams and Chris Jones) currently average $20M or more per season; it will be interesting to monitor how close to that figure Wilkins aims to get on a long-term pact.
Jackson writes that an overall sentiment exists pointing to a deal being hammered out at some point this year. That could come in the near future, giving the Dolphins more clarity with respect to their free agency and draft plans, or in the summer if the team wishes to get him on the books for years to come before he potentially ups his value further with another highly productive campaign.
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