The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to sign star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110 million contract, NFL Network reported Monday.
The Miami Dolphins opted not to use their franchise tag on the former first-round draft pick, who started all 17 games for the third straight season in 2023 and set a career high with nine sacks.
The Raiders are giving Wilkins $84.75 million guaranteed. His average annual salary of $27.5 million would trail only the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones ($31.75 million) and Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald ($31.67 million), per Spotrac.
Wilkins, 28, would have earned $22.1 million playing under the franchise tag in 2024.
Drafted 13th overall out of Clemson in 2019, Wilkins has recorded 20.5 sacks, 50 quarterback hits, 355 tackles and seven takeaways (one interception, six fumble recoveries) in 81 career games (77 starts).
Adding Wilkins to a defensive front that includes pass rusher Maxx Crosby gives Las Vegas an upgrade in the trenches with head coach Antonio Pierce lloking to improve the Raiders’ defense, which ranked No. 15 in the NFL last season.
–Field Level Media