After spending the first five years of his career with the Dolphins, Christian Wilkins, a former defensive tackle, has agreed to a lucrative deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. As a result, he is expected to leave Miami.
The agreement is said to be for four years, with a guaranteed $84.75 million and a base value of $110 million.
With the deal, 28-year-old Wilkins will be among the NFL’s highest-paid interior defensive lineman. Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, who recently inked a five-year, $158 million contract, is the only player whose total value is more. The guarantees also only lag behind Jones and the average yearly value spots below Jones and Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.
After the Dolphins decided not to apply the franchise tag to Wilkins last week, leaving him to become a free agency for the first time in his career, Wilkins’ future in Miami appeared to be in doubt.
Megadeals for Jones and Justin Madubuike of the Baltimore Ravens (four years, $98 million) in recent days have only strengthened Wilkins’ market, positioning him as the best defensive lineman available at the start of the legal tampering period at noon. Contracts cannot be signed before Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Last summer, contract negotiations were held between Wilkins’ agent and the Dolphins, but no deal could be reached. Wilkins used his $10.7 million fifth-year option to play out the remaining year of his rookie contract. At the NFL Scouting Combine, the two groups reconnected.
but was unable to reach a settlement in time for the franchise tag deadline.The Dolphins reportedly made Wilkins an offer last year that was among the top ten in defensive tackle average salary. The annual salary of a defensive tackle in 2023 would have required a minimum of $17 million for such a deal. Wilkins, however, bet that he could get far more than that on the free market, and he eventually won.
Wilkins, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, emerged as a team captain and one of the faces of the Dolphins’ rebuild. In 2022, he recorded a career-high 98 tackles, which was also the most by a defensive lineman in a decade. Over five seasons, Wilkins has recorded 355 tackles, 43 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks.
The Dolphins were unlikely to be able to compete with offers for Wilkins given their tight cap situation. As of Monday afternoon, they are about $25 million over the cap and must become compliant before the start of the new league year on Wednesday. General manager Chris Grier also alluded to upcoming extensions for players when speaking at the Combine.
Miami last week signed a pair of veteran defensive tackles, Isaiah Mack and Daviyon Nixon, to league-minimum deals, but will now be in search of a productive replacement for Wilkins, in free agency or the draft.
While Wilkins is headed west, he will return to Hard Rock Stadium in 2024. The Dolphins are scheduled to host the Raiders this upcoming season.
With Wilkins, safety Brandon Jones (Denver Broncos) and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (Minnesota Vikings) also agreeing to deals elsewhere, Miami has lost a half-dozen players who have contributed to the defense in recent years. The Dolphins released defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and inside linebacker Jerome Baker in recent weeks and will release cornerback Xavien Howard at the start of the new league year.
Miami is also losing right guard Robert Hunt, who is reportedly signing a five-year, $100 million deal with the Carolina Panthers
