After securing his $110 million big contract with the Raiders this week, Christian Wilkins reflected on his journey a bit and remembered back to when he joined the NFL as the Dolphins’ first-round pick from Clemson in 2019. He had a tough time during most of that season, and some in Miami wondered if the team had made a massive mistake by choosing him as the 13th pick.
Wilkins bounced back and achieved stardom, and if things go the Raiders’ way this year, his signing will not only bring the disruptive presence of Wilkins on the defensive front, but perhaps his presence will also help unleash the talents of defensive lineman Tyree Wilson, whose rookie year was similar to that of Wilkins—he was the No. 10 pick in 2023 but struggled badly in his first season.
In his first six games in the NFL, Wilkins was rated by Pro Football Focus as one of the worst defensive linemen in the league. Wilkins believed he was getting better in Miami, but he admitted he was struggling. His coach, Brian Flores, informed reporters about Wilkins, “That’s not the standard we really want here.”
Tyree Wilson Faced Challenges in His First Year
So when Wilkins was asked about Wilson, he became enthusiastic. Wilson played in 17 games last year and had 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He finished with a 47.1 grade from PFF, which ranked No. 105 out of 112 edge rushers. He was labeled as the 2023 draft’s “biggest disappointment” by ESPN last season, and one of the five “biggest busts” by Last Word.
Wilkins provided an in-depth response when asked about Wilson:
“I’m really excited to connect with Tyree, truly, because even with all this happening, I think about my journey and looking back on my path to reaching this position and the way it appeared for me in my rookie year. I didn’t anticipate being in this position, I didn’t expect to be in front of you guys.
“So, I’m definitely going to make it a goal of mine to help [Wilson] out as much as I can, be there for him in any way that he needs me, because I know how difficult it can be — the pressures and all that other stuff, the expectations and all of that. So, I’m there for him in any way he needs because, like I said, I went through all of that, and it was definitely a rough start for your boy.
“But I’m glad to be here, I didn’t get down about anything, just kept working, kept grinding. And I saw him in here today, and that’s the first start — just to be around, get to work, put your head down, keep grinding, and see where you end up.”
Raiders’ Christian Wilkins Has Familiarity with DC
That kind of veteran leadership should help out Wilkins’ transition to his new team immensely. Edge rusher Maxx Crosby undertook the primary role of leadership for the team, especially on the defensive side, along with Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs.
Jacobs is gone but now Wilkins is expected to step into the breach. If he can assist Wilson, it will be a double-win for the Raiders. It also helps that Wilkins is reuniting with a defensive coordinator he knows well, one who helped nurture him in Miami—Patrick Graham, who was the defensive coordinator for the Dolphins when Wilkins was a rookie.
Wilkins said that it's really helpful to have a good relationship with the coaches at the new place. He's excited to work with them again and also with the other coaches and staff. He's looking forward to getting to know everyone and building relationships with them as well.
