The Las Vegas Raiders’ high-stakes gamble on defensive lineman Christian Wilkins is quickly turning into a financial and strategic misfire.
Signed during the 2024 offseason to a blockbuster four-year, $110 million contract — worth $27.5 million annually — Wilkins was expected to be a cornerstone addition to the Raiders’ defensive front. However, less than a year into the deal, it’s being widely criticized as the team’s worst contract on the books heading into the 2025 NFL season.
NFL Spin Zone’s Lou Scataglia recently labeled Wilkins’ deal the most regrettable among Las Vegas’ current roster obligations. The 29-year-old former Miami Dolphins standout managed to appear in just five games last season before suffering a Jones fracture in his foot, an injury that derailed his debut campaign and required surgery.
In those limited appearances, Wilkins recorded only two sacks and nine pressures — solid, but far from the impact expected from a player earning nearly $30 million annually.
Adding to concerns, Wilkins’ recovery has been slow. He returned to wearing a walking boot during the offseason after briefly shedding it last year. While he is no longer in the boot, he did not participate in any OTAs or the team’s mandatory minicamp, casting further doubt on his fitness ahead of the 2025 season.
The deal, orchestrated by former general manager Tom Telesco, was seen at the time as a bold but risky move — one emblematic of Telesco’s penchant for chasing big-name free agents at premium cost. While Wilkins was among the most sought-after defensive linemen available, critics argued then, and even more so now, that the Raiders overpaid for a player who, while good, has never been dominant.
As Wilkins approaches his 30th birthday and battles lingering health issues, the Raiders are left hoping he can still turn things around. For now, though, the early returns on one of the most lucrative contracts in franchise history are far from encouraging — and increasingly difficult to justify.
