Christian Wilkins is the first big get of the new Raiders era.
Surprisingly not franchise-tagged by the Dolphins, Wilkins cashed in Monday by agreeing to a four-year deal worth $110 million, including $84.75 million guaranteed, as reported by NFL Network.
Wilkins is the latest in a long line of stud defensive tackles to sign four-year contracts, dating to last offseason when Javon Hargrave (49ers), Jeffrey Simmons (Titans), Quinnen Williams (Jets), Dexter Lawrence (Giants) and Da’Ron Payne (Commanders) all reset the market beneath future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. Only Hargrave changed teams in that group.
Wilkins’ deal is larger than all five of those deals – as expected, thanks to salary-cap inflation – and larger than the four-year, $98 million extension that Justin Madubuike signed last week with the Ravens. But it’s still under the five-year, $158.7 million extension that First-Team All-Pro Chris Jones signed with the Chiefs on Saturday to avoid free agency.
Adding Wilkins continues an offseason facelift for the Raiders that included hiring general manager Tom Telesco and promoting Antonio Pierce from interim head coach to the full-time role. The team still has a major question mark at cornerback.
The Raiders will have one of the most-feared defensive line combinations by pairing Wilkins, who had a career-high nine sacks last season, on the inside with three-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby (27 sacks over the last two seasons combined) off the edge.