Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents multiple Miami Dolphins players, thinks a big payday is ahead for Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
Rosenhaus doesn’t represent Wilkins, but he seems confident that the 27-year-old will make at least $20 million per year on his next deal. Wilkins is scheduled to play the 2023 season on his fifth-year option, and the Dolphins are looking to sign him to an extension this offseason.
Rosenhaus also said he expects Christian Wilkins, who isn’t his client, to get $20M a year or more, and doesn’t expect a big money deal for Dalvin Cook ($10M a season) to happen with Miami because of all the extensions the Dolphins have to do with their own players.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) June 12, 2023
Wilkins has spent his entire NFL career with the Dolphins after they drafted him in the first round in 2019.
Across 64 games at the NFL level, Wilkins has been a productive player, totaling 11.5 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits and 290 combined tackles. He has also racked up 17 passes defended, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one interception.
The Clemson University product has become a key part of Miami’s defense, especially in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2021 season, Wilkins hasn’t missed a game, and during that same span of time, he has taken his game to new heights from a productivity standpoint.
The Dolphins are hoping to take a step forward on the defensive side of the ball this season and beyond. Miami has had some good defensive teams in recent memory, but head coach Mike McDaniel, an offensive mind, saw his defensive unit allow 23.5 points per game last season, which ranked 24th in the NFL.
There’s certainly room for growth in that department, and Wilkins has what it takes to be a key part of Miami’s plans on defense for the foreseeable future.
Miami’s 2023 season is getting closer, with the Dolphins set to open things up in September against the Los Angeles Chargers on the road. Due to their schedule, the Dolphins aren’t going to have an easy path to the playoffs in the 2023 campaign, but the team is undoubtedly talented enough to overcome that obstacle and make the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
Last season, Wilkins got a taste of what the postseason is like, and he’s surely looking for more this time around. Time will tell what the future holds for all involved parties.
