Getty
Las Vegas Raiders DT Christian Wilkins.
Sixteen months ago, Christian Wilkins was the crown jewel of the Minnesota Vikings‘ free agency plans.
A dominant defensive tackle with the Miami Dolphins under Brian Flores, Wilkins was a free agent and commanding a lucrative market after setting career-highs in every pass rush category, including sacks (10) and pressures (58).
He was considered a “top priority” for the Vikings when the legal tampering window opened in March last year. There was “mutual interest,” but the Vikings were drastically outbid.
The Las Vegas Raiders reached a five-year, $110 million deal with Wilkins to be the centerpiece of a dominant defensive front.
Or, that was the plan, at least.
After not missing a game for three straight years, Wilkins played in just five games before he suffered a season-ending foot injury.
In a surprising move, Las Vegas released Wilkins at the start of Raiders training camp on July 24 due to how he treated the rehab of his foot injury.
Released as a vested veteran, Wilkins will have his choice of his next team and will begin making visits and undergoing team physicals soon — and the Vikings are a team that should revisit their interest in the 29-year-old tackle.
ESPN sources: Raiders are releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with the designation of terminated vested veteran. His time in Las Vegas is now over.
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
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2025
Vikings Have an Edge in Landing Christian Wilkins
GettyMinnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores takes the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers.
Let’s be clear: there is likely an issue with Wilkins’ foot that could require more time and recovery.
The Raiders offered a damning statement when they announced Wilkins’ release, saying, “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, who made $49.7 million in five games with Las Vegas, made his bag and, coming off injury, will likely only be signed on an affordable one-year trial deal.
Who better to convince him to join the Vikings than his former head coach in Flores?
Minnesota has also become a free-agent haven for many reasons. A winning culture instilled by Kevin O’Connell and an organization that is invested in its players and team, the second-best grade on the NFLPA Team Report Card for 2025.
On a team-friendly deal, Wilkins could spend more time rehabbing his foot in Minnesota before joining the team late in the season and help make a playoff push.
The likes of Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, Harrison Phillips and Wilkins would make a vaunted four-man front that would be dominant on paper with Pro Bowl edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel flanking on the outside.
Vikings Made the Right Call on Wilkins
Last year’s free agency was the first year the Vikings could chase big-money free agents since they signed Kirk Cousins in 2018.
But when the price got too high for Wilkins, the Vikings decided to pivot to making additions that could be greater in sum than a single player.
The Vikings landed Greenard ($19 million annual salary) and Van Ginkel ($10 million annual salary) for nearly the cost of Wilkins ($27.5 million annual salary).
Greenard and Van Ginkel combined for 23.5 sacks and 134 pressures en route to their first Pro Bowl mentions of their careers.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
