Vikings Should Consider This Embattled Free Agent
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense could use an injection of run support, and outside of an expensive trade, there’s no better option than maligned free-agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
With the Vikings’ defense not quite living up to its lofty 2024 standard, the club should exhaust all personnel options, including a free-agent DT.
The Las Vegas Raiders shockingly dropped Wilkins a few months ago. To date, no team has signed him.
So, why not the Vikings?
Christian Wilkins? The Vikings Should Kick the Tires.
As in … why not?
Who Says No on Christian Wilkins?
Three items are present regarding the common sense factor of Wilkins to Minnesota:
- When he’s on his game, Wilkins is one of the NFL’s top run-stuffers in the middle of the defensive line.
- The Vikings’ run defense has been sketchy through seven games of 2025.
- No team has signed Wilkins, and his next contract will be affordable.
These are his run defense grades from Pro Football Focus since 2019:
2024: 80.2
2023: 69.5
2022: 78.9
2021: 80.8
2020: 73.9
2019: 66.6
The man has never produced a single poor season with run defense. He’s 29. Sign him up.
The Brian Flores Connection
Brian Flores, the Vikings’ current defensive coordinator, took over the Miami Dolphins organization as the head coach in 2019. His first draft pick, some three months after accepting the big job? Oh, just a guy named Christian Wilkins.
Wilkins’ career truly blossomed in Miami, and Flores led the charge in developing him. Unlike other teams, especially if Minnesota has any sideways interest in Wilkins, there is a connection between Wilkins and the Vikings. His name is Brian Flores.
Not for nothing, Wilkins was a teammate of Vikings outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel in Miami, another carryover from Flores’ time in Miami to Minnesota. If general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah inquired about Wilkins to help the run defense, he could simply hand the phone to Flores.
An Affordable Prove-It Contract
In a very bizarre turn of events in the summer, the Raiders released Wilkins and voided his contract’s guarantees. He and the club’s training staff evidently disagreed on how to handle a foot injury, irritating the Raiders’ brass and setting the stage for divorce.
Wilkins also allegedly kissed a teammate’s forehead at some point, which ruffled feathers and didn’t help his case to remain on the team.
What does this mean? Well, Wilkins is not in a position to demand a fat contract — like he did during the 2024 offseason when Las Vegas agreed to pay him $110 million over four years. He must reestablish credibility in the NFL, and his next contract will be dinky compared to his previous one.
Yes, this is a low-risk, high-reward scenario.
Past Connection to Vikings in 2024 Offseason
The Vikings were players for Wilkins during 2024 free agency — also known as a year and a half ago.
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson explained on SKOR North’s Mackey and Judd Show in March 2024, “O’Connell alluded to this on Monday, just how much work, how much the Vikings were in on some of these defensive tackles, namely Christian Wilkins. Like, what the Raiders gave Wilkins, I think surprised the Vikings. Those 48 hours leading into the official start of free agency, like I’m telling you, the Vikings were feeling very, very good about their chances of landing Christian Wilkins.”
Adofo-Mensah could not close the deal in 2024 because of Wilkins’ price point, instead signing EDGE rusher Jonathan Greenard and the aforementioned Van Ginkel.
If the team wanted him then, why not now? Adofo-Mensah could close the deal for a couple of million bucks.
Wilkins to the Chiefs?
KCKingdom.com‘s Ernesto Cova made the case last week for Wilkins to Kansas City: “The former Las Vegas Raiders star is more than familiar with the division and what Kansas City likes to do with Steve Spagnuolo at the helm. He’d also welcome a chance to join a Super Bowl contender after going unsigned in the offseason.”
“The Raiders’ decision to release the former Clemson star was surprising, to say the least. The 29-year-old suffered a setback from a foot injury, but he was just one year into his four-year, $110 million contract. The initial belief from the franchise was that Wilkins would require another surgical procedure, and the lineman balked at that idea, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ryan McFadden.”
Wilkins will turn 30 in two months.
“This led to the Raiders voiding the remainder of his contract. Ultimately, the NFLPA filed a grievance on Wilkins’ behalf. While that whole situation will be figured out in due time, it leaves the door wide open for GM Brett Veach to make the most of this bizarre situation and swoop right in,” Cova added.
“Before his injury, Wilkins was a proven run-stopper. He has made 86 appearances (82 starts), logging 372 total tackles, 56 QB hits, 45 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 19 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Wilkins’ health might be a bit of a concern, but he’s certainly worth the risk, and money shouldn’t be an issue at this point in the season.”
The Vikings have about $16 million in cap space as of October 30th.
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