The Miami Dolphins have chosen not to use their tag on standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. Wilkins is considered the best player on the Dolphins’ defense and is set to receive a large salary in free agency. With several teams interested, the Chicago Bears seem like the best fit for the 28-year-old.
According to Spotrac, the Bears have the fifth most cap space in the NFL, currently sitting at $57.5 million, which is more than enough to sign Wilkins and others. Spotrac predicts that Wilkins will secure a 4-year contract worth $80.9 million. Dalton Wasserman of PFF analyzed potential free agent pairings for all 32 teams, and he anticipates that the Bears will sign the soon-to-be former Dolphins standout.
“The Bears have a great opportunity to enhance their roster with talented players at quarterback, wide receiver, and edge defender in the upcoming draft. With over $56 million in cap space available, they should focus on bolstering their defensive tackle group, which ranked 29th in the NFL in overall grade in 2023.
“Justin Madubuike has been franchise-tagged in Baltimore, and it’s widely assumed that the Chiefs will find a way to keep Chris Jones. That leaves Miami’s Christian Wilkins, PFF’s seventh-ranked free agent, as the best available interior defender. Wilkins finished 2023 with the ninth-most pressures and fifth-most sacks at the position last season.”
For a Bears defense that’s aiming to improve in 2024, adding arguably the best free agent on the market makes sense.
Bears Have Been Linked to Wilkins Before
Due to the significant cap space the Chicago Bears possess, they’ve been connected to numerous high-profile free agents this offseason. It’s no surprise that the Miami Dolphins now have to be concerned about another team presenting him with a lucrative contract and potentially losing him.
Another possibility involves Chris Jones. Jones might be heading to the Kansas City Chiefs if they can’t agree on a new deal, and similar to Wilkins, he will be pursued by many.
Adam Jahns of The Athletic sees Wilkins as the next best available player if they are unable to sign Jones.
“If Chris Jones re-signs with the Chiefs, which is expected, Wilkins is obviously the next best choice. At 28 years old and coming off a nine-sack season, Wilkins is in line for a lucrative, long-term contract from some team. He may exceed the Bears’ financial limits. However, acquiring a three-technique player definitely seems like the next step for Poles in bolstering Eberflus’ defense. The Bears will seriously have to evaluate how much they believe in Dexter’s development in his second season.”
Losing Wilkins Hurts The Dolphins If He Leaves
It’s not certain that Wilkins will depart from the Miami Dolphins, but the outlook is not optimistic.
The Dolphins still face a major issue with cap space at -$16.6 million, according to Spotrac. Miami could explore alternatives, but it would necessitate releasing other players and restructuring contracts. Even if they take those measures, there’s no clear path to come up with the amount of money Wilkins is valued at.
Wilkins recorded 38 tackles and 9 sacks in 2023. He performed even better than his stats indicate and would be a significant loss for the Dolphins.
Regarding the Chicago Bears, he would improve a defense that only got 30 sacks, the second lowest in football.
