Should New York Giants GM Joe Schoen already be on the phone with Christian Wilkins’ representatives trying to find out if it is feasible to bring the just-released defensive tackle to New Jersey to join his bestie, Dexter Lawrence, on the Giants defensive front?
It’s complicated.
The Las Vegas Raiders are releasing the talented Wilkins, a 2019 first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins who was entering the second year of a four-year, $110 million contract with $84.75 million guaranteed, in an apparent
dispute over the treatment of a Jones fracture Wilkins suffered in his foot last season. The injury limited him to five games.
Per ESPN, it appears the team believed Wilkins, who had not practiced with the Raiders this year, needed a second surgery to repair the damage to his foot. Wilkins had refused. Las Vegas voided $35.2 million in guaranteed money due to “failure to maintain his physical condition to play.”
Here is the statement from the Raiders:
“We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins and he has been informed of his release from the team,” the Raiders said in a statement. “This franchise has a commitment of excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for a new season.”
The Players Association has filed a grievance on Wilkins’ behalf.
Now, back to whether or not signing Wilkins would be a good idea for the Giants.
First, Giants fans likely remember this from Director of Pro Scouting Chris Rossetti during ‘Hard Knocks’ in 2024:
Here’s #NYGiants Director of Pro Scouting Chris Rossetti from last night’s Hard Knocks saying he doesn’t think Christian Wilkins is a difference-maker on third down. #Raiders pic.twitter.com/3EOEkNd4kT
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) July 3, 2024
First and foremost to any consideration of signing the 29-year-old Wilkins is whether or not he is actually healthy enough to play football.
The Raiders did not believe so. And they did not believe Wilkins was taking the necessary steps to get healthy and return to the field. Giants’ doctors would have to thoroughly examine Wilkins and give a “yes” or “no” on whether he is capable of playing without the surgery the Raiders wanted him to undergo.
FootCareMD says “A Jones fracture is the name often used for a fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal, the bone on the outer side of your foot.”
Here is more detail on the back-and-forth between the Raiders and Wilkins from The Athletic:
The typical timeline for recovery from a Jones fracture is three to four months, but Wilkins still wasn’t able to practice when the Raiders began OTAs in May. That was a clear sign something had gone awry in his recovery process. And when the Raiders placed him on the physically unable to perform list last week, it confirmed he still wasn’t ready to go for the start of training camp. He missed the Raiders’ training camp practices Wednesday and Thursday before getting released.
Before OTAs began, the Raiders informed Wilkins that he needed a second surgery on his foot, according to a league source. Wilkins disagreed and didn’t get the procedure, a league source said. That sparked a back-and-forth over the last few months that led to the Raiders ultimately deciding to move on from Wilkins.
Imagine a healthy, productive Wilkins with the Giants, though. As Chris Pflum reminded me, Wilkins would be the fifth first-round pick on the Giants’ front seven. He would join Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter. Rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander is a highly-touted third round pick, and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke was also a third-round pick.
That’s quite the collection of highly-drafted talent.
Just something to think about. If, and it is a BIG if, Wilkins is actually healthy enough to play.
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