No, New York Jets fans, this does not make any sense.
Immediately after the Las Vegas Raiders released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, Jets fans began to pound the table for general manager Darren Mougey to sign the former Miami Dolphin.
Wilkins, 29, was selected by Miami with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
The Clemson product spent five seasons in Miami, accumulating 355 total tackles (43 for loss) and 20.5 sacks across 81 games (77 starts), including a nine-sack year during the 2023 season.
Last offseason, he agreed to a four-year deal worth $110 million with the Las Vegas Raiders, including $84.75 million guaranteed.
Everything was downhill from there for the defensive tackle.
Wilkins only played in five games during the 2024 season before suffering a season-ending foot injury, which required surgery. Ahead of training camp, the Raiders placed Wilkins on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list before releasing him with a terminated vested veteran designation on Thursday.
The Raiders also sought to recoup $35.2 million in guaranteed money, citing concerns over how Wilkins handled his injury rehabilitation.
In turn, Wilkins filed a grievance through the NFL Players Association, challenging the team’s decision. Ultimately, he collected $49.7 million from the original deal, despite appearing in only five games during his brief stint in Las Vegas.
To be fair, in the eyes of the average fan, it makes sense for Gang Green to pursue Wilkins. He is a former division rival who was a headache for the Jets each year, while New York still has a hole at defensive tackle behind Quinnen Williams.
However, signing Wilkins is the last thing Jets fans should be pushing for.
First, Wilkins is recovering from a season-ending foot injury, and his status for 2025 remains uncertain, so the medical concerns are certainly pressing.
As he turns 30 years old this year, it will be very difficult for him to recover from such a significant injury at his age.
Additionally, concerns with Wilkins extend beyond the field into the locker room. According to NFL reporter Josina Anderson, the Springfield native had a “incident” with a teammate, which also contributed to his release.
As the Jets move on from the Robert Saleh–Joe Douglas era, a cultural reset is underway, and the last thing New York can afford is dysfunction in the locker room.
Adding an aging, injured veteran with reported off-field issues would risk undermining the cultural reset underway in Florham Park, making a move for Wilkins a gamble that doesn’t add up for Gang Green.