Dolphins not tagging Christian Wilkins: Should Vikings pursue star DT?

The Miami Dolphins are officially not using the franchise tag on star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins this spring, according to Ian Rapaport. The 28-year-old should have no shortage of potential suitors on the open market, especially if Chris Jones and/or Justin Madubuike are retained by their current teams.

Five years ago, Brian Flores was in his first year as the Dolphins' head coach when the team picked Wilkins 13th overall. He's started 79 games for Miami since then, establishing himself as one of the more disruptive DTs in the league despite not making any Pro Bowls or All-Pro teams thus far. With Flores now in Minnesota as defensive coordinator and the Vikings in need of interior pass rush, will they be interested in reuniting Wilkins with his old head coach?

At the very least, the familiarity with Flores makes this something worth keeping in mind if the Vikings want to make a splash in free agency. They're near the middle of the pack in terms of current cap space, but their overall approach to this offseason may be impacted by what ends up happening with Kirk Cousins. Wilkins is a big-time player who will likely command at least $20 million per year on a new long-term deal.

The fit certainly makes sense for the Vikings, whether Cousins is back or not. If Cousins does return, Wilkins would be a win-now addition who would provide a major boost to Flores' defense in an area of need. If Cousins moves on and the Vikings end up drafting a quarterback, they'll have more cap space to allocate to other areas — and at 28, Wilkins is still young enough to fit a two or three-year reload timeline. The Vikings had basically no pass-rushing presence in their defensive tackle room last year.

Last season, playing in the final year of his contract, Wilkins had the most productive year of his career, setting personal bests in sacks (9), QB hits (23), and pressures (58). Across five years, he has 20.5 sacks, 19 passes defended, and four forced fumbles. In 2022, he played nearly 1,000 defensive snaps, recording 16 tackles for loss among his 98 total tackles. At 6'4", 310 pounds, he's an explosive athlete who shines both in run defense and as a pass rusher.

Wilkins is a very good football player in the prime of his career, which means there are a bunch of teams who will be interested in signing him. The Vikings may not be his most likely destination, but they also shouldn't be counted out. If Danielle Hunter ends up signing elsewhere, Minnesota could look to add a new star to its defensive line.