The Las Vegas Raiders‘ defense hasn’t been terrible this season, but they clearly could use more help on the defensive line. A big reason why they weren’t overly aggressive in addressing the defensive line in the offseason was that they thought they’d have Christian Wilkins this season.
However, things got weird with Wilkins quickly. He wasn’t practicing due to a setback with a foot injury he suffered last season. The Raiders then surprisingly decided to cut him outright and void his guarantees.
There have been rumors that he had a serious HR issue with a teammate, but there haven’t been many details to leak out. He’s remained a free agent all season, but now there’s talk of teams considering giving him a chance. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report listed the Buffalo Bills as a fit for Wilkins.
“If he is healthy, though, he would be a terrific addition to almost any defense,” Knox wrote. “He was a regular standout during his five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, often morphing between being a run-stopping specialist and an interior pressure man. He racked up 98 tackles and 16 tackles for loss in 2022 before logging nine sacks and 30 QB pressures in 2022.
“The Buffalo Bills, who recently placed defensive tackle Ed Oliver and defensive end Michael Hoecht on injured reserve, should see if Wilkins is in playing shape.”
Why Hasn’t Wilkins Been Signed?
Wilkins has been very silent since the Raiders released him. It was reported that he was going to fight the team’s decision to void his guarantees, but there hasn’t been an update on that.
It’s possible that Wilkins is waiting for that to be resolved before he considers signing with another team. He also wasn’t fully healthy when the Raiders cut him, so it’s possible that he’s still trying to get his foot right.
Also, the fact that Las Vegas would cut one of its best defensive players is a major red flag to teams around the NFL. If Wilkins gets healthy and wants to keep playing, there will likely be a team that gives him a chance, but he might have to wait until next season to play.
Raiders Need to Find DT Upgrade in Offseason
Cutting Wilkins left the Raiders with a huge hole at defensive tackle. They traded for Thomas Booker in hopes that he could replace Wilkins, but he hasn’t made too much of an impact.
Adam Butler continues to play well, but he’s just one player. The Raiders need help all over the defense, but defensive tackle will be one of the biggest needs.
Jonah Laulu has shown some promise and could be a building block, but he’s more of an interior pass rusher. The Raiders might want to find a big-time run stuffer to put in the middle of the defensive line. Las Vegas also has rookies Tonka Hemingway and J.J. Pegues on the roster, but hasn’t given them much playing time. It could be time to let those two get more reps to see if they have some potential.
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