Giants, Commanders, Packers could have interest in rumor involving former $110 million star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Three teams that should still be in the market for an upgrade along the defensive line are the New York Giants, Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers.
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The Giants have an elite defensive lineman in Dexter Lawrence, but ESPN’s Jordan Raanan has reported that New York has been in the market for more help upfront. More specifically, Raanan says the Giants need a run-stuffer.
The Commanders are in a similar boat, as guys like Javon Kinlaw, Jer’Zhan Newton and Daron Payne all struggled against the run last season. The addition of Tim Settle helps, but he’s an average run defender, at best.
In Green Bay, the Packers have cut ties with multiple defensive linemen via trades, with the team sending Rashan Gary to Dallas and Colby Wooden to Indianapolis. Because of those moves, the Packers need more pass-rush and run defense juice upfront.
On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that former Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, who didn’t play at all last season, is planning on playing this coming season and has received significant interest already.
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“Free-agent DT Christian Wilkins fully intends to play this season, but still is rehabbing his foot injury, per his agent David Mulugheta,” Schefter reported.
“So far 26 teams have reached out and are waiting for Wilkins to be ready, and Wilkins is expected to have a new home as soon as he wants,” he added.
Based on their respective needs along the defensive line, the Giants, Packers and Commanders should all be keeping an eye on this situation because, when at his best, Wilkins has proven to be an elite run defender and interior pass-rusher.
That said, there is a lot to unpack with Wilkins following his departure from Las Vegas.
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What happened to Christian Wilkins?
Wilkins once looked to be on a superstar trajectory during his days with the Miami Dolphins after he posted nine sacks in 2023, which he parlayed into a $110 million contract with the Raiders in 2024.
However, Wilkins’ stint with the Raiders saw him play in just five games that year due to a Jones fracture, and then he was promptly released the following offseason under murky circumstances.
It was reported that the Raiders cut Wilkins because of a disagreement over his rehab, and more specifically the team wanted him to get another surgery but Wilkins wasn’t willing to do that.
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“The Raiders are cutting Christian Wilkins in the wake of a dispute over whether or not he should undergo surgery on his injured foot and are attempting to void $35.25 million in remaining guarantees on the defensive tackle’s contract, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday,” NFL.com wrote last July.
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that there was more to the story than just Wilkins refusing to get another surgery on his foot.
“Christian Wilkins, who was released by the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, kissed a fellow player on the head and the teammate took offense to it,” ESPN wrote of Schefter’s report.
“The incident was not the sole reason Wilkins was cut, sources said. Wilkins has been recovering from a Jones fracture, which he suffered in his left foot last October.”
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More recently, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan revealed that the situation that led to Wilkins’ release is a “tough one to overcome” and it is why he remains unsigned.
That would seem to suggest Wilkins is radioactive, but Schefter’s report suggesting there are 26 teams in contact with Wilkins says otherwise.
Another concerning situation with Wilkins is the fact that, even after sitting out all of last season, the veteran still isn’t fully healthy.
On the flip side, all of this mess is going to make him cheap on the open market, and if he can even come close to return to the form we saw in 2023, he could ultimately prove to be a steal.
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