On Monday, the Patriots found themselves in a slightly better position within the AFC East when one of their divisional competitors, the Miami Dolphins, experienced a setback with the departure of their standout defensive tackle, Christian Wilkins. Reports from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport indicate that Wilkins is set to join the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving the Dolphins to reassess their defensive line. Rapoport further details that Wilkins and the Raiders have reached a four-year agreement potentially worth $110 million, with $84.75 million guaranteed.
The Dolphins selected Wilkins, who hails from Massachusetts, as the 13th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft from Clemson. He is coming off his most impressive season in his five-year career, having played in all 17 games for Miami. During this season, he achieved a career-high nine sacks, along with 10 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits. Initially playing as an end for his first three seasons, Wilkins transitioned to tackle in 2022, displaying his versatility. He is known for his well-rounded skills, excelling in both pass rush and run defense. His addition to the Raiders’ defense, which ranked in the top 10 by DVOA, under interim coach Antonio Pierce, who was recently named permanent head coach, should prove beneficial.
Wilkins would have been a valuable asset to the Patriots’ defense as well, and there were predictions from NFL analysts that New England might have secured his services.
The Patriots can find some comfort knowing they won’t have to face Wilkins as frequently in the future. According to Pro Football Focus grading, two of Wilkins’ top five performances in 2023 came against the Patriots, where he amassed a total of four tackles and two sacks across the two matchups.
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