The Detroit Lions have made a lot of effort to attach themselves to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, should he be available, in an attempt to strengthen their pass rush this offseason. The most practical need is for an edge rusher, but defensive tackle can also be necessary.
Ahead of the last day of the 2024 NFL Combine, ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler gathered some insider news from Indianapolis. This tidbit, about the Miami Dolphins and free agency defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, was one of their many.
“While Miami’s stance is that all options are on the table for defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, several league sources say he probably won’t be franchise-tagged,” Fowler stated. “That would put a big-time tackle who had 63 tackles and nine sacks in 2023 on the market.”
The Dolphins are currently more than $31.6 above the cap, so to say they are cap-strapped would be an understatement. It’s possible that they will have to let Wilkins move on to more promising opportunities, considering he is arguably the best defensive lineman available among free agents, only surpassed by Jones.
Reported free agency: Is Christian Wilkins a realistic target for the Detroit Lions?
Last season, Wilkins recorded 65 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 23 quarterback hits. He also set a career high with nine sacks. He recorded 98 tackles in 2022, breaking Derrick Brown’s record for interior defensive linemen in 2023.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wikins had 61 QB pressures last season, which would have placed him second on the Lions behind Aidan Hutchinson.
SI.com’s Christian Booher is on board with the Lions’ pursuit of Wilkins.
“Wilkins has the potential to make a significant impact and will be a valuable asset wherever he ends up. Given the Lions’ requirements, it would be a big deal that would indicate Detroit wants to contend for a Super Bowl.”
His estimated market value, according to Spotrac, is $20.2 million year, with a four-year contract of $80.98 million. Given that Jones can most likely obtain that annual average, Wilkins is a feasible trade-in for any team considering Jones.
Wilkins has a marginally higher chance of being taken seriously by the Lions than Jones, since they will likely consider any of the top free agent defensive tackles.
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