It’s been a minute, Raider Nation. However, we’re back with another mailbag answering your questions. With offseason activities underway this month, there are some legitimate concerns from Las Vegas Raiders fans, namely Christian Wilkins.
As we await training camp, we at The Raider Ramble will take some time to address your concerns. With that being said, let’s get the conversation started.
How much is it a concern if Christian Wilkins can’t go when the season starts?
From @YourBoyJimmy___
The level of concern depends on your expectations for the Raiders heading into this season. If you were expecting a playoff run, the Wilkins news hurts a bit. However, if you were just hoping for some significant improvement from last year, that can still happen. Pairing Wilkins with Maxx Crosby creates a scary defensive front. But, even without the former Miami Dolphin, this unit is still pretty excellent.
Adam Butler is still a solid player. Malcom Koonce’s return from injury provides Las Vegas with a strong complement to Crosby. Furthermore, don’t forget about former first-round pick Tyree Willson, who has continued to get better each year.
The optics present a significant concern. Being out this long with a foot injury is weird. If the condition is something that causes Wilkins to miss significant time this season, the alarm bells will be blaring. The Raiders gave him a big contract, and if he misses most of the first two years of it, the whispers about him being yet another Raiders free agent bust will become deafening screams. Nevertheless, the Raiders are in a bit of a transition period right now, so it isn’t like this one bad contract will be the only thing keeping them from contending.
Moving on…
Are we going to sign another DT now that Wilkins is still out?
From @JGinWV
Man, you guys are really worried about Wilkins. This is a fair question, though. Currently, I would not expect anything anytime soon. At this point in the year, the free agent market is rather thin, leaving teams without many options or much leverage. Furthermore, the Raiders likely will want to take some time to see how the Wilkins situation plays out. On top of that, they will likely want to see what some of the younger guys who are already on the roster look like before bothering to bring in someone from outside.
Let’s check back in after training camps start. If Wilkins still is not back by July, the Raiders may begin to consider some contingency plans at defensive tackle. Nothing crazy, but probably a former starter that gets cut by another team during camp.
That wraps up our mailbag. Make sure to look for future opportunities to submit your questions by following @TheRaiderRamble on ‘X.’
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