The Christian Wilkins experiment in Las Vegas has officially come to an unceremonious end. Looking back, it was a pivotal moment during the brief Tom Telesco era in Sin City—a significant swing but one that ultimately missed.
According to ESPN sources (H/T Adam Schefter), the Raiders are releasing the veteran defensive tackle with a “terminated vested veteran” designation—a polite way of saying, “Thanks, but this isn’t working.” What began as a splashy free-agent signing has quickly turned into one of the more sour chapters of the offseason.
Did the Raiders make the right choice by moving on from Christian Wilkins?
Wilkins, brought in to be a disruptive force in the middle, never quite found his footing—literally. After suffering a foot injury last season, questions began swirling about how he approached his rehab. The Raiders clearly weren’t satisfied. Last month, the organization took the rare and bold step of voiding the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money in his contract, citing conduct related to the injury recovery process.
Now, Wilkins is taking action. He has filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association, and it appears a legal battle may be imminent.
This action clears the books for the Raiders, but it hurts how others may see them moving forward. Also, it’s worth noting that this current regime has made no promises or qualms about the roster—especially players they inherited. They took a big risk on Wilkins, but, as the story goes, when visiting Las Vegas, they lost. Wilkins is in a big mess and is fighting to keep his money and maybe even his reputation.
Thursday’s events serve as a cautionary tale for teams pursuing free-agent stars. It emphasizes that contracts have limitations when trust is compromised. For Raider Nation, the focus will shift to Pete Carroll and his staff as they navigate the future, now with one fewer veteran but potentially a bit more wisdom.
Related: Raiders HC Pete Carroll Talks “Competition Wednesday”
*Top Photo: Getty Images