Christian Wilkins, defensive lineman, Las Vegas Raiders (Released) This decision followed a season riddled with injury issues and an important social justice moment involving many of his teammates. Wilkins had signed a four-year, $110 million deal with the Raiders last offseason. Now, he’s a free agent and can sign with whatever team he wants to.
From the 2024 season, Wilkins really started to put it all together and find his groove on the field. He accumulated 17 tackles, two sacks, and six quarterback hits in just five games. His season turned drastically when he had surgery for a Jones fracture. This injury significantly impacted not only his playing time but the Raiders’ playoff hopes for the season.
Wilkins has most recently spent five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, quickly earning a reputation as one of the league’s most valuable players. His nine sacks in 2023 were a career high, proving that he has the flashes of elite talent and production to be a strong addition to any defensive front. Despite these achievements, concerns over his injury rehabilitation process raised alarms within the organization.
That only got worse after a particularly embarrassing incident that took place in one of the team’s meeting rooms, after which his teammates had a divided reaction. Though one outlet described the exchange as “playful,” that sentiment was not echoed among other reporters on the scene. This misalignment in interpretation fueled an atmosphere of speculation about Wilkins’ standing with the club long term.
Looking to right this historic wrong, on June 4, the Raiders made a strong statement. Second, they voided the other $35.2 million in guaranteed cash on Wilkins’ contract. This change was the direct result of what happened a few weeks ago. It speaks to the undercurrent of worry about his long-term return from injury. Upon his termination, Wilkins was awarded the status of terminated vested veteran. This immigration status lets him maintain access to key benefits.
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