The New England Patriots have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, led by the dynamic duo of Christian Barmore and newly signed Milton Williams. That group could soon get even stronger with the recent release of Massachusetts native Christian Wilkins.
Per ESPN's Ryan McFadden, the Las Vegas Raiders released Wilkins just one year into his deal, and voided the remaining $35.2 million in guaranteed money that was left on his contract due to how Wilkins had been reluctant to get additional surgery to repair his foot.
Now that he is a free agent, Wilkins will be able to choose his next team, and hopefully, his hometown team will come calling.
Not only do the Pats have the most cap space in the league, per Spotrac, over $60 million, but they also have a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, who has built a relationship with Wilkins dating back to college recruiting. On Friday, Vrabel was asked about New England potentially signing the recently cut defender.
"I’ve known Christian, recruited him when he was up here in the area in Connecticut in high school, so I’m sure we’ll have a conversation."Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach
While the Patriots already boast one of the league’s top defensive fronts, there are still lingering questions. Last year, Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots, which kept him sidelined for the majority of the season. And Williams has never had to be the focus of an opposing team’s offensive line. During his time in Philly, he was fortunate to play alongside Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, and, most recently, Jalen Carter. In New England, he may face greater pressure to produce on his own.
Entering his seventh year in the league, Wilkins has proven to be one of the most productive defensive tackles when healthy. Before a foot injury ended his season in Week 5, Wilkins had remained healthy during his five seasons with the division-rival Miami Dolphins, averaging 71 tackles and 4.1 sacks per season. Wilkins cashed in during free agency, signing a four-year, $110 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason.
For a Patriots team in transition, Wilkins could be the ideal addition — a disruptive force with local ties and Pro Bowl upside. With over $60 million in cap space and a head coach who already knows him well, the stars may be aligning for New England to bring Wilkins home — and transform a great defensive line into a dominant one.