Veteran defensive lineman Christian Wilkins was released by the Las Vegas Raiders this week in a surprising move ahead of the 2025 NFL season. The decision came amid a dispute over the 29-year-old’s foot injury.
Wilkins’ injury status for the 2025 season is uncertain, but he is certainly talented enough to help a number of teams.
As such, it’s no huge surprise that on Friday, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the team will “have a conversation” about signing Wilkins.
Wilkins originally signed a four-year deal worth $110 million with the Raiders. Now, his tenure with the team is over after just one season.
He was limited to just five games in his only season with Las Vegas. In those five games, he was able to accumulate two sacks, two tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 17 combined tackles.
Previously, he was a longtime member of the Miami Dolphins, where he began his career after being drafted by them in the first round in 2019. Across five seasons with Miami, he made a name for himself and did enough to land the aforementioned deal with the Raiders.
In his final season with the Dolphins, he had nine sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits and 65 combined tackles. He also had two passes defended, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Wilkins was a part of some solid Dolphins teams and tasted the playoffs with them twice, but Miami was never able to win a postseason game during his tenure.
Now, after stints with the Dolphins and Raiders, a new chapter awaits for the Clemson University product. If he were to land with the Patriots, he’d be joining a team that is trying to turn a corner as it gets a new era going under Vrabel.
Last season, New England struggled under previous head coach Jerod Mayo, who was let go after just one year. Overall, the Patriots have had three straight losing seasons, a streak they’re trying to break so that they can ultimately return to the playoffs and become contenders again. Wilkins might be able to help.
