A stunner: The Raiders are releasing standout DT Christian Wilkins, the former prize of free agency after just one season of a five-year, $110M deal, sources say.
Wilkins, who has been dealing with a serious foot injury, is on the books for $57.5M fully guaranteed.
— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet.bsky.social) July 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Let me start by making this about myself.
In 2019, the New York Giants selected Dexter Lawrence 17th overall out of Clemson
. Lawrence was the third D-Lineman taken from Clemson in that draft.
The Raiders took Clelin Ferrell 4th.
The Dolphins took Christian Wilkins 13th.
Both of those players had better statistical seasons for the Clemson team that won the National Championship.
Fast forward to 2025 and Dexter Lawrence is in the conversation as one of the best defensive players in the entire NFL.
He’s made 2 All-Pro teams and he’s about to anchor one of the most dangerous pass rush units for the Giants this season—joining forces with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and now Abdul Carter.
Clelin Ferrell is a decent player.
He’s there.
Ya know.
He’s got 17 career sacks.
Cool.
Dexter Lawrence has 30, almost twice as many as his college teammate who went 4th overall.
Christian Wilkins earned a big payday with the Las Vegas Raiders last year, signing a four-year, $110 million contract to team up with Maxx Crosby and save the team from whatever the fuck Aidan O’Connell was doing.
Wilkins only played 5 games last before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
And now he just lost $35 million and became an unemployment statistic because he went to training camp this summer with his foot still hurting.
Apparently, the Raiders wanted him to receive a second foot surgery and Wilkins wanted to rehab the injury.
Makes sense.
I think we, as fans, downplay how scary and invasive and dangerous surgery is.
Nothing wrong with Christian Wilkins electing to rehab on his own.
Except, it sounds like the Raiders are claiming Christian didn’t do much rehabbing at all, as his foot is still injured.
Christian Wilkins filed a complaint with the NFLPA but from everything I read about the NFLPA these days, someone in that office is going to receive that fax and use it as rolling paper for a joint they’re smoking on a yacht as they ignore all of their duties, but that’s a conversation for another day.
Wilkins is too talented to sit out the entire 2025 NFL season.
If he can pass a physical, whatever that actually means, let’s talk about what’s next for the DT.
4 Potential Christian Wilkins Landing Spots
1. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals are pretending to be poor even though we know there is no way this team cannot afford to pay Trey Hendrickson.
Between their in-house, gameday revenue and the revenue sharing amongst all 32 NFL teams, no one owning an NFL team is poor.
Good news, Christian Wilkins will be super cheap, considering one of his feet doesn’t work right now.
Joe Burrow needs a defense to help him so he’s not losing games 53-50.
Christian Wilkins can change the entire scope of the Bengals season.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: The Philadelphia Eagles have the best defense in the NFL.
No better place to ease back from a rough injury than being a cog in an unstoppable machine, subbing in situationally instead of being relied upon to play a majority of the snaps like he would be elsewhere.
The team is so stacked, Wilkins can sign a 1-year deal and get his sack numbers up just by way of playing alongside Jalen Carter, the one-man wrecking crew.
Plus, Wilkins had the best season of his career with Vic Fangio coaching the defense in Miami.
I hate the Eagles, yo.
3. Miami Dolphins: Whomst amongst us hasn’t had a bad break in life and gone back to an ex for reassurance?
4. Tennessee Titans: The 2024 Titans ranked 30th in sacks last season.
They could use all the talent they can get.
They were asked last week if the team they have right now can win a Super Bowl.
Here was the response:
No one.
Absolutely no one.
Reporter: “Can the Titans team this year win the Super Bowl?”
Titans are +21000 to win the Super Bowl🤣pic.twitter.com/HmrJhyIkGE
— Sportzino (@Sportzino_) July 22, 2025
They laughed.
The expectations couldn’t be lower. Christian Wilkins, on one leg, can be the best player on this shitty ass team.
Thanks for reading.
Let me know if you want your team to sign Christian Wilkins, leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
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