The Las Vegas Raiders made a significant move on Thursday by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, as officially announced by the team. This transaction comes with the notable voiding of the remaining $35.2 million in guaranteed money on his contract, attributed to a disagreement regarding his rehabilitation process following surgery for a Jones fracture in his left foot.
The typical recovery period for a Jones fracture is estimated at three to four months. However, Wilkins was unable to participate in practice when the Raiders kicked off their OTAs in May. This absence raised concerns about his recovery, leading to the Raiders placing him on the physically unable to perform list just last week, confirming he was not prepared to start training camp. His absence from training camp practices on Wednesday and Thursday ultimately culminated in his release.
In response to the Raiders' decision, Wilkins has reportedly filed a grievance with the NFLPA in an attempt to recover the guaranteed money that the team voided. Prior to the initiation of OTAs, the Raiders had advised Wilkins that a second surgery on his foot was necessary, a procedure he chose not to undergo, which led to ongoing disputes over the following months and ultimately resulted in the Raiders deciding to part ways with him.
Under the previous management led by former general manager Tom Telesco and former coach Antonio Pierce, the Raiders made a significant investment in Wilkins, signing him to a lucrative four-year, $110 million contract that included $57.5 million in guaranteed money in March 2024. The expectation was that with defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, the Raiders would boast one of the most formidable defensive lines in the NFL. Unfortunately, this potential did not come to fruition.
In a turn of events, Koonce sustained a season-ending torn ACL during a practice prior to the first game of the year. Meanwhile, Crosby faced his own challenges, suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 that eventually required season-ending surgery after he re-aggravated the injury later in the season. Wilkins himself encountered a setback in Week 5 when he suffered the Jones fracture while trying to make a tackle. Though he underwent surgery, which sidelined him for the final 12 games of the season, there was hope for his return by the start of the 2025 season.
Following the hiring of new general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll earlier this year, the Raiders were made aware of Wilkins' precarious status. If the team's decision to void Wilkins' remaining guaranteed money stands, they will only be responsible for his prorated signing bonus through 2028. Wilkins initially received a $24 million signing bonus, but the Raiders restructured his contract in March to create cap space. This restructuring converted a $20.5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus and added a void year to the contract.
This restructuring resulted in the prorated amount being spread over the next four years, alongside his original signing bonus, leading to an annual cap hit of $9.925 million through 2028. The financial implications of these decisions will continue to resonate as the Raiders navigate their roster and future contracts.
As the situation unfolds, the focus will remain on how the Raiders will fill the void left by Wilkins and whether they can recover from the setbacks faced in their defensive lineup.
