Christian Wilkins, welcome to the top tier.
Wilkins is leaving the Miami Dolphins for the Las Vegas Raiders, and the price tag is staggering:
Four years, $110 million, with $84.8 million guaranteed, per multiple reports.
That’s an average annual value of $27.5 million — which makes Wilkins the third-highest-paid defensive tackle and the fifth-highest-paid defensive player in the league.
Christian Wilkins Blockbuster: Contract Details, Grade as Raiders Steal Wilkins Away From Miami
“Christian & Maxx bout to go CRAZY this year!” Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey wrote on X after NFL Network broke the news.
Wilkins’ average salary was far beyond anything the Dolphins could have afforded, even if they thought he was worth that amount (which, given the fact that Wilkins turned down a contract last summer that would have paid him for less, is a long shot).
INSTANT VIDEO REACTION to the jaw-dropping Christian Wilkins/Las Vegas Raiders contract https://t.co/N1vay13Si9 pic.twitter.com/W1oOTbvA0r
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) March 11, 2024
The Dolphins are some $23 million over the cap with a little over 48 hours left before the NFL deadline to get under it.
They’ll certainly be in the market to replace Wilkins on the defensive line, but at a far lower price point.
Wilkins’ career with the Dolphins ends after five excellent years. He was the first pick of the Dolphins’ rebuild (which began in 2019) and has gotten better each year.
He posted career highs in sacks (9), quarterback hits (23), and fumble recoveries (2) in 2023.
And he did so on a contract year. The Dolphins had made good-faith efforts to lock Wilkins down prior to last season, but the two sides never could agree on the details.
So Wilkins bet on himself and played out his contract. That bet certainly paid off in a big way.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Free Agent Rankings
The Raiders, with $36 million in cap space, had the resources the Dolphins did not. Did they overpay? Perhaps. But they also got the player they clearly prioritized.
Raiders Grade: B
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