Former Vikings priority free agent target hits the market with intrigue for defensive coordinator Brian Flores' defense

Minnesota Vikings should look into signing Christian Wilkins

That same offseason, the Vikings made a serious run on trying to sign defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, but he ended up losing out to the Las Vegas Raiders, who signed him to a four-year contract worth up to $110 million.

On Thursday night, the Raiders decided to part ways with Wilkins and voided out the remaining guarantees.

Wilkins was healing from a Jones fracture he suffered last season, and things didn't go as planned.

Wilkins has been recovering from a Jones fracture, which he suffered in his left foot last October. Because of how Wilkins has treated the rehab from his injury, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on his contract on June 4, sources said.

The belief was that Wilkins needed another surgery on his foot; he balked at getting it, sources told ESPN. The Raiders then voided the guaranteed money left on his deal due to "failure to maintain his physical condition to play."

That's not great on many levels, but this is where the Vikings could jump in and maximize their defense for 2025 at a value. First off, the Vikings will have to get a sense of what actually happened with Wilkins and his rehab. How much of it is a long-term issue, both with his current health and how he went about his business?

If the Vikings think both of those are workable, bringing him in makes all the sense in the world. He can be a rotational piece with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave as a pass rusher, and Brian Flores understands how to use him, as Wilkins was the first draft pick during his tenure as the Miami Dolphins head coach.

With Wilkins having a grievance with the Raiders over his guarantees, that could complicate things on another level. If they can come to an agreement on a contract in the neighborhood of $5-10 million for a season, it could be the best-case scenario for both his career and the Vikings making a Super Bowl run, especially since the training staff understands how to keep players healthy.

This could all be a moot point if what ESPN's Ryan McFadden reported above is true, that Wilkins needs another surgery on his Jones fracture. He would likely not be signed by any team this season.

It's at the very least something that the Vikings should explore.