Christian Wilkins is one of the NFL’s hottest commodities, and his return to the Miami Dolphins is anything but assured, even if a positive update on that front was reported earlier.
While the Dolphins want the defensive tackle back, several hurdles remain in their way, such as salary cap restrictions. Some except the former first-round pick to command as much as $25 million a year, so Miami might have to get creative with its finances.
In addition, quite a few teams are seemingly interested in bringing him in. Dan Graziano of ESPN reported that the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions could join the fray. Given that Chris Jones has reportedly agreed to return to the Kansas City Chiefs on a five-year deal that includes a guaranteed $95 million in the first three years, Wilkins might get some nice offers.
“After Chris Jones landed a big deal on Saturday night, Miami’s Christian Wilkins is likely to be a hot name, with contending teams such as the Texans and Lions looking to upgrade at that position,” wrote Graziano.
Jeremy Fowler also reported to expect at least seven teams to compete for the Clemson University product’s services. He mentioned the Minnesota Vikings because of a familiar name, Brian Flores. The former Dolphins head coach currently serves as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
“Wilkins’ market is heating up after Miami opted against the franchise tag,” Fowler wrote. “Expect at least seven teams to pursue him. The Brian Flores connection in Minnesota is one to watch, but Houston and Cleveland could take swings, too.”
Only time will tell how the Wilkins-Dolphins saga turns out.
The organization already has its hands full early in the offseason, as it is currently facing a salary cap crunch. Miami is reportedly reworking the deals of some of its players to cut some costs.
The good news is that there is a big-time player who might be interested in coming to the Dolphins. Five-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry seemingly hinted on social media that he might be looking at a reunion with the squad, a move that star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is also possibly ready to sign off on, based on his recent activity on X.
However, Miami might want to focus more on addressing its defensive needs. After all, it had one of the league’s best offenses last season but ranked in the bottom half in points allowed. Hopefully, it can enter the upcoming campaign with a better defense.
