By day’s end, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins could very well be former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
The legal tampering period begins at noon at Eastern, meaning Wilkins can enter contract negotiations with the NFL‘s 31 other teams Monday and sign with anyone beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
UPDATE, 1:40 PM ET
Christian Wilkins has signed a four-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Click to learn more about Wilkins’ monster deal that will pair him with Maxx Crosby.
Miami Dolphins Set To Lose Christian Wilkins?
He is expected, in the words of agent Drew Rosenhaus (who does not represent Wilkins), to “break the bank.”
UPDATE, 12:10 PM ET
The legal tampering period has opened, and Wilkins has “a robust” market, per The Athletic, with the Vikings, Browns, Texans, and Lions in the mix.
Christian Wilkins is a top target for many teams including the Vikings, Browns, Texans, and Lions, per sources. He is expected to have a robust market.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 11, 2024
And the Dolphins seem OK with letting another team make him one of the highest-paid defensive players in history.
Wilkins’ negotiating hand got far stronger over the last week, thanks to the new contracts handed out by the Chiefs and Ravens to defensive tackles Chris Jones (five years, $158.8 million) and Justin Madubuike (four years, $94.8 million), respectively.
“[That] has really driven the defensive tackle market sky-high,” Rosenhaus said on WSVN-7 Sunday night. “It started last year, and it’s continued. I think Wilkins is going to break the bank. I think it’s safe to bet that he’ll certainly get more than $20 million a year.
“It’s going to be fascinating to see if the Dolphins want to do that type of deal for him. When the Dolphins didn’t franchise him, they probably boosted his finances. Hopefully, the Dolphins can keep him. He’s a great player and person.”
The Dolphins did Wilkins a huge favor by not tagging him. He would have earned $22.1 million in 2024 under the tag. Now, he’ll probably earn two or perhaps even three times that much this year, between base salary and bonuses.
And if Wilkins does get one of those mega deals this week, it’ll be fair to wonder if the Dolphins messed up by not franchising him.
Certainly, the Dolphins have salary cap issues. But it’s possible Wilkins’ contract comes in with a higher AAV than the tag figure, which suggests tagging him might have been the value play.
It also suggests that perhaps there would have been a tag and trade market for the sixth-year player that would have been better than the 2025 third (at best) the Dolphins will get via compensatory pick should he walk and they not make a similarly big splash in free agency.
Of course, the Dolphins could have avoided this all by getting a deal done with Wilkins at any point in the last two years. The price for Wilkins in 2022 would have been a fraction of what it will be now.
MORE: ESPN Reporters Have Free Agent DT Christian Wilkins Connected to 2 AFC, NFC Teams
“I wouldn’t rule the Dolphins out,” Rosenhaus said Sunday. “They’ve got great negotiators in Chris Grier and Brandon Shore. They’ve got one of the top owners in the game in Stephen Ross. He’s been here for five years and we all know how he feels about this team and playing here.
“He’s been very vocal about it. He’s been a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. Wilkins is a special guy, and I’m sure the Dolphins will fight hard to keep him in a Dolphins uniform.”
Andrew Van Ginkel Free Agency Update
Rosenhaus represents a different Dolphins front-seven defender that also seems in line for a payday. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel also becomes a free agent this week if the two sides can’t work something out ahead of 4 p.m. Wednesday.
When asked if Van Ginkel wants to be back in Miami, Rosenhaus replied:
“I’m not going to speak for Gink, but certainly, he has had a great run here with the Dolphins. He’s been here five years. There is mutual interest there. We expect there to be a strong market for Gink tomorrow. It’s really up in the air any time you go into free agency.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
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