MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins have 29 free agents that are set to hit free agency in March, but it looks like defensive tackle Christian Wilkins could be here to stay for at least one more season.
Wilkins, 28, ended the 2023 season with a career high 9 sacks and a career low 65 tackles.
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Since being drafted in the first round in 2019 out of Clemson, Wilkins has recorded 355 tackles (43 for a loss), 50 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, 19 passes defended, six fumbles recovered, four forced fumbles and an interception.
With the league’s window to place a franchise tag opening on Tuesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on Wednesday that the Dolphins will likely keep Wilkins for one more season if they can’t come to a long-term deal.
“The Dolphins don’t plan to let Christian Wilkins leave, and if that means franchising him, that’s likely what they’ll do,” Graziano said on NFL Live. “The problem is the Dolphins are in pretty big cap trouble. As of right now, they’re projected to be $50 million or more over the cap once that cap is finally settled, and they would have to clear that much room just to get under the cap. And, if they tag Wilkins, they have to clear another $20-21 million to get him under the cap. So, [the Dolphins have] a lot of work to do before they can do that. They might be better off signing him long-term before the window ends.”
Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier told reporters after their playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that Wilkins “deserved to be a free agent” after betting on himself and performing well in 2023 but it seems as if Miami would like to bring back one of their most beloved players.
If Wilkins returns to the team in 2024, he will look to top last season’s numbers under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who has expressed that he would like to work with him.