Pete Carroll praises potential Christian Wilkins replacements

With Christian Wilkins now gone from the Las Vegas Raiders, the question now shifts to what the team will do to replace him.

Practice on Friday saw Adam Butler and Jonah Laulu as the first-team defensive tackles for the Raiders. Wilkins’s departure also opens the door to more playing time for free agent signing Leki Fotu, as well as Day Three rookies Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues. The team also picked up former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Keondre Coburn off waivers on Friday to bolster the depth.

With the race now on to replace Wilkins, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has highlighted two potential options.

These two young Raiders have a real shot at more playing time.

During his media availability after training camp on Friday, Carroll took the time to praise two emerging defensive linemen, with Laulu being one of them.

”Jonah hasn’t done anything but the right stuff so far, he’s been on it. I found him watching film coming off the last season before we even got back together and all that. And I thought I saw some really good traits about him. And so, I’ve been kind of in his corner the whole time, pushing him to be in the front line in this thing. And so far, he’s shown us the flexibility to play different spots, which is good. He’s playing really hard and he’s playing really smart and he’s making a bid for us,” Carroll said.

Playing in all 17 games for the Raiders last season, Laulu was further along than expected. Initially a seventh-round pick in 2024 of the Indianapolis Colts, Laulu ultimately landed with the Raiders and recorded 35 tackles, one sack and three passes defended. With Wilkins now gone, Laulu has the opportunity to lock down a starting role full-time this next season.

However, another option that Carroll brought up was 2023 seventh overall pick Tyree Wilson.

“I think this is really his time. He had a little bit of an injury issue early on, last year he made improvement. I’m counting on him to do stuff in a big way, and that’s not just outside at end where he is a real natural. We’re moving him around, trying to see what we can do and work in complement with our other rushers. But I’m really enthused about how he’s shown his effort and his concern about doing things really hard and full speed and all that. So that’s a really good sign. He’s a marvelous looking athlete,” Carroll said.

Wilson has not exactly lived up to his high draft status yet, but the improvements have come along gradually. His numbers did improve in 2024, with opportunities emerging as injuries took hold along the Raiders defensive line. Now with Wilkins out of the picture, Wilson can slide in on the inside in key situations and provide the Raiders some options alongside Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce in terms of pass rush.

Carroll’s words have suddenly made Laulu and Wilson names to watch as training camp rolls along.