It’s a weird situation on a few different levels. Wilkins’ injury was a Jones fracture which can be tricky for players to recover from, especially large linemen who are putting a lot of stress on the foot. Still, the timing of the injury should have left ample recovery time and the Raiders expected to have Wilkins in time for OTAs.

That’s not how things played out. There were trickles of reports during the spring and summer that Wilkins’ recovery was not progressing. After he was released, it was revealed that Wilkins discovered or sustained another foot injury in the process of rehabbing his first one, an injury the Raiders believed needed corrective surgery. 

Wilkins did not get the surgery, and that combined with his elongated recovery seems to have been at the root of his exit from Las Vegas. It also likely didn’t help that the coach and GM who signed off on such a big deal last offseason were also jettisoned at the start of the offseason, with key new voices taking over like HC Pete Carroll, GM John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady. Rebuilding the team’s culture has been a big priority and evidently they decided Wilkins didn’t fit into that. 

There’s also some weird, tabloid-style stuff floating around an “incident” with Wilkins and a teammate. The official story, as much as has been made “official,” is that Wilkins was messing around and kissed a teammate on the head. The teammate did not take it as a joke and filed an official complaint with human resources.

You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that action/reaction doesn’t add up and there’s some context being left out. Pro Football Talk noted there’s a different version of the incident making the rounds in the NFL rumor mill, but didn’t report what it was. It’s also not clear how much all this played into the Raiders’ decision. 

Regardless, it’s not the first time Wilkins has been caught up in weird stuff with other players. Combined with the injury questions and his age (he turns 30 in December) and there’s a ton of baggage for potentially interested teams to sort through, far more than the last time he was free to sign with another team. Fit and familiarity are always key components for teams when it comes to player acquisition, but they’re even more important in situations like this with a controversial player who isn’t just going to take a pat on the back and a cup of coffee, not when the Raiders are trying to void $35 million in guarantees. 

When Will Wilkins Sign? 

In the Raiders’ official announcement of Wilkins’ release, they referenced, “no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian.” He’s been in a walking boot much of the offseason and started training camp on the PUP list. It’s an open question of when he’ll be ready to play. A lot depends on whether he elects to get the surgery he’s been putting off or if he continues his rehab process. There have been some reports that Wilkins could be ready later in the season, but again, there are a lot of unknowns. 

Wilkins won’t make $22.5 million a year on his next deal but he should still be able to get a solid deal with a fair amount of incentives. How much will almost certainly depend on his health but there are enough teams with a good amount of cap space left to the point where a max value of over $10 million isn’t out of the question. It’s not out of the question Wilkins signs a multi-year deal, but a one-year contract to allow him to test the market again next year is probably more likely. 

As far as on the field, Wilkins started his career with a reputation as more of a run-stuffer and less of a pass rusher. But as he progressed and as different coaching staffs began to ask more of him, his game developed. Wilkins had a career-high nine sacks in 2023 and had two through five games last year. I wouldn’t put him in the same tier as some of the league’s other elite pass-rushing defensive tackles but he’s capable of contributing in this area. 

With all that in mind, and with extra emphasis on teams that are familiar with Wilkins and his unique baggage, here’s a half-dozen that could make sense as potential landing spots. 

Miami Dolphins

No team will be more familiar with Wilkins and everything that comes with him than Miami, where he was drafted and played the first five years of his career. Plenty of the same coaches are still on the staff, including DL coach Austin Clark, and while Wilkins hasn’t played for DC Anthony Weaver before, he’s a good fit for that system when healthy thanks to his combination of nimbleness and sturdiness. Wilkins was one of the prominent players the Dolphins have had to let go due to salary cap troubles, so it’s easy to see how the chance to get him back at a reduced cost could be appealing. 

That said, Miami’s salary cap situation could still be a major obstacle. Miami is currently listed by Over The Cap with just over $1 million in cap space. That doesn’t account for a raise for new S Minkah Fitzpatrick that cleared room, but it also doesn’t account for a new deal for DT Zach Sieler that may have increased his cap hit. There are a few deals the team could restructure, but it would add to the deficit that’s already shaping up for the Dolphins in 2026. 

A lot will depend on how the Dolphins are looking around midseason. If they’re in the playoff hunt and the remade defensive tackle group needs a boost, it could make sense to sign Wilkins. Otherwise, it doesn’t make as much sense to throw money at him just to watch him leave for better-paying pastures again in free agency. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars check a ton of boxes when it comes to being a team to watch for Wilkins. First, there’s a return to Florida where he played his first several years and where there is no state income tax (it is probably not a coincidence that Wilkins landed in Nevada, a state that also has no income tax, last year). 

Second, Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile was on staff with the Dolphins for two of Wilkins’ best seasons and knows him well. Two of Wilkins’ former Clemson teammates, QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne, are also on the team and can help vouch for him as a player and person. Outside of the Dolphins, the Jaguars probably are the team most familiar with Wilkins. 

Third, the Jaguars’ new regime is ready to win now and has made aggressive moves to that end this offseason. Jacksonville has plenty of cap space to accommodate a contract for Wilkins, and defensive tackle is one of the potential soft spots on the roster. Both veteran Arik Armstead and former second-rounder Maason Smith have missed significant time during camp with injuries, and their replacements have not stood out in a good way per most of the buzz reports coming from the beat. A healthy Wilkins could make the group a real strength. 

This could take some time to play out given the circumstances. The Jaguars also would probably prefer to give young players like Smith as much runway to assert themselves as possible. But if the Jaguars are in the playoff mix and defensive tackle needs shoring up, look for there to be strong mutual interest between the two sides. 

New York Giants

The run defense in New York last year wasn’t great before DT Dexter Lawrence got hurt and it deteriorated even more without him. The Giants made fixing the depth on the defensive line a priority this offseason to try and plug those holes but the early word from camp is that the run defense (still without Lawrence for the time being as the team eases him back) remains leaky. 

Adding Wilkins would be another big swing at trying to fix that problem. It would reunite him with Lawrence, his running mate at Clemson, and give the Giants the potential to have an overpowered line like they did during their heyday — assuming good health of course. The contract is a potential issue, as the Giants are near the bottom of the league in available cap space right now. 

But with a not-insignificant amount of job pressure on both GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, it’s easy to see the team being willing to kick some money into future years to add a player like Wilkins if they believe it will help the results this season. 

New England Patriots

No team has more money to spend than the Patriots right now and despite an offseason of spending, New England still isn’t in a position to turn up its nose at the chance to add talent on defense. The Patriots like how their front is shaping up with big-ticket signing Milton Williams and the return of Christian Barmore at defensive tackle, but Wilkins would take that unit from good on paper to potentially great. 

As far as fit, Patriots HC Mike Vrabel has managed some strong personalities in the past, and there are some ties to Wilkins. He’s originally from Connecticut and Vrabel actually recruited Wilkins when he was at Ohio State, though obviously unsuccessfully. Vrabel has already mentioned to reporters that the Patriots will consider signing Wilkins once they sort through all the logistics. 

Atlanta Falcons

Reports from last year indicated the Falcons were waiting to go after Wilkins and some other high-priced defensive players had they missed out on signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins. That deal got done and Atlanta’s budget didn’t have capacity for Wilkins, but the interest is notable and potentially relevant now. Fixing the defense, and more specifically the pass rush, was the top priority for the Falcons this offseason and motivated many of their major additions. Adding Wilkins could give them another presence on the interior. 

There are still some financial obstacles to sort out. Cousins is still on the books for a $27.5 million salary and the Falcons have just a few million to work with at the moment. Other moves would be needed to clear space for Wilkins, and it could come at the expense of veteran DT David Onyemata, who is due a $10 million base salary that’s not guaranteed. The challenge there is Onyemata is ready to play right now, Wilkins might not be ready until the back half of the schedule. 

Minnesota Vikings

Vikings DC Brian Flores was the head coach for the Dolphins when Wilkins was drafted in the first round and for the first few years of his career, so that necessitates a mention for Minnesota here. However, the Vikings went out and spent big on defensive tackle already this offseason, adding Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to beef up the interior. That might leave no room for Wilkins, both in the lineup and on the salary books.