It was just two seasons ago that DC Jim Schwartz provided the expertise and leadership that shaped the Cleveland Browns’ defense into the top unit in the league.
You don’t get that distinction without having talented players. And Cleveland just so happened to employ EDGE rusher Myles Garrett, who was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year that season.
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Browns GM Andrew Berry is always looking to tweak the roster, looking for
talent in an attempt to make each position a bit better. This year’s defensive tackle group looks very good and should hold its own after failing last year.
On Thursday, a major name was released from his team: DT Christian Wilkins, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, a player Cleveland reportedly tried to acquire in NFL free agency two offseasons ago.
The Raiders announced Wilkins’ release in a statement Thursday:
“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. This franchise has a commitment to 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 the new season.”
Wilkins (6’-4”, 310 pounds) was taken with the 13th pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. He was an absolute stud at Clemson, where he was a two-time All-American and a two-time All-ACC recipient, plus was part of two National Championships.
The fact that the Raiders up and cut him so early in training camp was unexpected by everyone. Should Berry call his agent and bring him in for a physical to see if he can sign him?
By waiving Wilkins, Las Vegas voided $35 million of Wilkins’ contract. He injured his left foot and suffered a Jones fracture early in the second quarter of the Week 5 contest against the Denver Broncos, a 34-18 defeat. He had surgery with a recovery period of about three to four months. However, a person’s body can take longer to heal if they need bone grafting to fix the fracture, and Wilkins was added to the IR list, which ended his season.
But the recovery was taking forever, and the Raiders wanted Wilkins, age 29, to have further procedures and undergo a second surgery. He declined in favor of a rehabilitation routine. From there, it has been a roller coaster between player and management as to when and how he should treat the injury, and when he could return to the field.
Las Vegas officials asserted that the best path to take for his injury to heal correctly was a second surgery, and Wilkins declined several times. According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic:
“Wilkins’ refusal to undergo a second surgery garnered an adverse reaction from some players, coaches, and executives, according to league sources, and raised questions about his commitment. That didn’t jive with what the front office has said they want the Raiders to be about.”
As training camp approached, the Raiders placed Wilkins on the physically unable to perform list less than a week before camp opened.
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Photo by Ian Maule/Getty ImagesWilkins is widely considered one of the top defensive tackles in the league, although he has never been voted to a single Pro Bowl. He has 371 career tackles in his six years in the league, with 22.5 sacks and 91 pressures, as highlights of his stats. His best season highs were 98 tackles (2022) and nine sacks, 30 pressures, and 23 QB hits (2023).
The Dolphins did pick up the fifth-year option on Wilkins’ contract, but by season’s end, they allowed him to find employment elsewhere.
He then inked a four-year deal with the Raiders for $110 million with $84.75 million guaranteed plus a $24 million signing bonus. His stats for the one season in Las Vegas were five starts, 17 total tackles, two tackles for loss, six QB hits, two sacks, seven pressures, three knockdowns, and one hurry. Basically, they paid him a nine-figure sum for five games on the field.
Neither the head coach nor the GM who signed Wilkins to that huge deal is still with the team. This means the current regime doesn’t have any loyalty to him being on the roster. By cutting him, Las Vegas will be responsible for taking on a hefty sum of guaranteed money still owed to Wilkins.
Should Cleveland try to sign Wilkins?
The Browns have revamped their DT room this year after having plenty of issues with not stopping the run up the middle of the defense last season.
Holdovers are Michael Hall, Jr., Shelby Harris, and Jowon Briggs. New to the roster this year are first-round draft pick Mason Graham, CFL standout Ralph Holley, Jr., and free agent signee Maliek Collins.
ESPN sources: Raiders are releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with the designation of terminated vested veteran. His time in Las Vegas is now over.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2025
Due to how Wilkins treated the rehab from his foot injury he suffered last season, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2… pic.twitter.com/GXOGSeXz5H
Wilkins filed a grievance over the guaranteed money with the NFL Players Association. The Raiders voided the $35.2 million in remaining guaranteed money on his contract based on “how he treated the rehab from his foot injury” that ended his 2024 season.
Rumors persist about concerns with Wilkins and why he was released, as well as whether he’ll be able to play anytime soon.
If Wilkins had remained with the Raiders, his salary this season would have been $27.5 million. Certainly, Berry would not pay anywhere close to this sum for a defensive tackle, and analytics backs this up, but he can reach out and get the topic rolling.
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