Christian Wilkins may reunite with his former Raiders teammates sooner than expected, but next time he’ll suit up in the opposing locker room. The free-agent defensive tackle was linked to the division-rival Chargers in a recent USA Today article.
“The Las Vegas Raiders released Wilkins just one season into a four-year contract he signed last offseason,” Ayrton Ostly wrote in the article. “He’s recovering from a serious foot injury but still has plenty of value even as he reaches his age-30 season.
“There are some questions about his exit from Las Vegas and the Raiders will attempt to recoup some guarantees from his big-money contract. As he’s getting back to full health, he may be best suited for a rotational role but could be an impact player on a per-snap basis. That will make him intriguing for many contenders or teams looking to shore up the interior line depth on defense.”
Ostley lists the Chargers as one of the top possible fits for Wilkins, along with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. While few general managers would balk at adding quality defensive line depth (especially when playing Patrick Mahomes twice a year), the league-wide interest in Wilkins is uncertain following his recent controversies.
Wilkins’ Messy Departure From Las Vegas
The $100-million defensive tackle was involved in two notable incidents preceding his release from the Raiders. The most widely discussed incident, at least on social media, was Wilkins kissing a teammate on the head. The other player involved was reportedly fellow defensive tackle Adam Butler, who took offense to Wilkins’ actions and notified the team.
The more pertinent but less salacious incident was a dispute between Wilkins and the Raiders concerning whether the 29-year-old should undergo foot surgery, as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Both events culminated in the Raiders cutting Wilkins on July 24 and voiding his remaining $35.25 million in salary guarantees. Wilkins has since filed a non-injury grievance through the NFLPA.
Does Wilkins Fit the Chargers’ Needs?
Wilkins played in only five games and logged two sacks for the Raiders in 2024 before the foot injury sidelined him. However, his standout 2023 season with the Miami Dolphins showcases why he’d be a terrific addition for the Chargers. Wilkins racked up nine sacks and 10 tackles for loss that year, which led to the massive deal he signed with the Raiders.
If Wilkins could replicate that success, he’d help replace the absence of longtime Charger Joey Bosa, now entering his first year in Buffalo. In fact, Wilkins had more sacks in his 2023 season alone than the Chargers’ three starting defensive tackles have in their careers combined.
Jason Reed of Bolt Beat also discussed the potential fit between Wilkins and the Chargers.
“When Wilkins was first released, it appeared that he was at risk of missing the entire 2025 season,” Reed wrote. “Instead, the reality may be that Wilkins will only miss a few weeks, if any. Wilkins is absolutely worth the flier, even if he only plays 12 games this upcoming season.
“The Bolts have newfound cap space thanks to the Rashawn Slater extension and have the opportunity to land an impact player for cheap. Wilkins won’t be chasing a payday; he will be chasing a chance to contend and prove that the Raiders made a massive mistake.”
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