The Las Vegas Raiders have just made the most shocking move of the NFL’s summer: releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who they just signed to a four-year, $110 million contract last free agency period. You might be wondering how the Raiders were able to move on from Wilkins, who had $84.75 million guaranteed on his deal, so quickly.
Well, there’s a story to that. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Wilkins turned down the opportunity to have a second surgery on his foot. Last year, a Jones
Fracture forced him to go on the injured reserve. He had surgery on the foot in October, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, but wants to rehab his foot without having surgery.
Because of the disagreement over the rehab or surgery decision, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million of his guaranteed money. Wilkins’ team has since filed a grievance with the NFLPA about whether or not Las Vegas should have been allowed to do so.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Wilkins made $49.7 million over five games, about $10 million per game played, with the Raiders. Las Vegas has already paid him out a $20.5 million bonus this year, but they were able to get out of his $8 million salary that he had remaining for 2025.
So now, Wilkins, a former first-round pick who has 82 starts under his belt, is a free agent. Prior to his foot injury, he had started and played every game in the 2021-2023 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. I’m no doctor, so I can’t say how viable Wilkins’ foot will be moving forward, but if there’s a chance the Green Bay Packers could get a Pro Bowl talent at a discount rate without subjecting themselves to too much risk, they should take a swing.
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