Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins reveals why he chose to sign with Las Vegas in free agency
The Las Vegas Raiders and several other teams have been busy spending money this offseason. However, no other team had made as splashy a signing as the Raiders when they signed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who was on the Miami Dolphins last season. He is a top-five defensive tackle in the league, and the Raiders […]
The Las Vegas Raiders and several other teams have been busy spending money this offseason. However, no other team had made as splashy a signing as the Raiders when they signed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who was on the Miami Dolphins last season. He is a top-five defensive tackle in the league, and the Raiders paid him a lot of money to be just that.
This defense started last season as the same story we have seen the last 15 years – one that's just not very good or just gets outshined by the offense. Once Antonio Pierce took over, he allowed defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to call the defense the way he wanted it done, and then the Raiders finished the season as a top-five defense in the league.
With the hiring of Antonio Pierce as the full-time head coach, and removing the interim tag, along with the success they had last season, it's clear people will want to start playing for the Raiders. However, there are other reasons for that, too. Just like every free agent signing is asked, Wilkins revealed why he chose Vegas, and it's pretty simple.
"Vegas is obviously a great city, a great place," Wilkins said during his introductory press conference. "There's a lot to be excited about – Coach Pierce and his energy and the things that the team was able to do last year toward the end during his time taking over. There's a lot of great teammates, a lot of things to be excited about.
"There's one big reason I definitely wanted to come here and that's number 98 [Crosby]. He's obviously a heck of a player. I have a lot of respect for who he is and how he operates and how he plays, and I'm excited to be his teammate. And a lot of other guys as well, just even seeing the defense and getting to know those guys and guys who've been around today just kind of chopping it up with them, too."
It's obvious the best defensive player in the league is making people want to play in Las Vegas. Yes, I said that – Crosby is the best in the league. It's almost to that same level where defensive players want to come to Las Vegas because of Crosby, very similar to the way offensive players want to go somewhere with an amazing quarterback.
Besides the fact that it's one of the most iconic sports teams ever, the biggest selling point of playing for the Raiders is that they have Maxx Crosby. No one wants to play against him, so why not play with him?
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