NFL stunner opens enticing new opportunity the Packers are perfectly positioned to take advantage of ahead of 2025 season
The Green Bay Packers might not be willing to make big trades for veterans. But general manager Brian Gutekunst might be much more willing to make additions to the roster in free agency, if the price is right. On Thursday night, a shocker in the NFL world might create an intriguing opportunity.The Las Vegas Raiders […]
The Green Bay Packers might not be willing to make big trades for veterans. But general manager Brian Gutekunst might be much more willing to make additions to the roster in free agency, if the price is right. On Thursday night, a shocker in the NFL world might create an intriguing opportunity.
The Las Vegas Raiders released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins a year after signing him to a four-year, $110 million contract last offseason. Not only that, the Raiders are also voiding his guarantees due to the way he treated his rehab.
Wilkins played only five games for the Raiders, with two sacks, but he had a Jones fracture that prematurely ended his season in 2024.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Raiders wanted him to have new foot surgery, but the player declined to do it. Wilkins had been placed on the active/PUP list to start camp.
"Every day he's here early, working hard, but we're still working," Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said of Wilkins in May. "He's not ready to get back out. We're in the midst of a long, challenging process. Fortunately, there's a lot of time, and we're going to take every bit of it. We've really tried to be really diligent in the way we've worked it and the way we've wanted it and all that, and he's been on board the whole time. But it has been challenging."
The Raiders voided $35.2 million in guarantees, and Wilkins' reps filed a grievance with the NFLPA trying to recoup the money.
What the Packers can do
It's unclear at this point when Christian Wilkins will be back, but the Packers have the financial flexibility to sign him and wait. The team has more than $30 million in available cap space right now, even after signing right tackle Zach Tom to an extension, so there's plenty of room to give the defensive tackle a new deal.
Because Wilkins is a vested veteran, he doesn’t need to go through waivers and is available to sign with any team at any point.
The Packers have Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt as projected starters along the defensive line, but a player of Wilkins' caliber would be huge for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
In 2024, Wilkins had only nine pressures and two sacks in five games, but he was a consistently good run defender, with 14 tackles and 11 stops. This is particularly important for the Packers after losing TJ Slaton in free agency.
Back in 2023, his final season for the Miami Dolphins, Wilkins had 58 pressures—more than any Packers player had in 2024—and 33 stops.
It's not usual for a player of this caliber to get available in July. Several teams have spent most of their cap space and budget. Many have tried to fill their needs with other moves. The Packers are in a unique position with financial flexibility and the roster need to attack the situation with a high level of urgency.