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Las Vegas Raiders Broke the Bank on Christian Wilkins Deal | Contract Details

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 3/12/24

The Las Vegas Raiders plan to sign Christian Wilkins to a contract befitting of the highest of high rollers who call the poker rooms along the Vegas Strip home away from home.

After Chris Jones opted to stay with the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilkins was arguably the premier free agent available on the open market and the top interior defensive lineman, whom the Raiders now get to pair alongside elite pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.

According to a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Las Vegas Raiders’ deal for Wilkins is gargantuan.

“It’s a four-year, $110 million deal with $57.5 million fully guaranteed at signing,” Florio writes for PFT. “As a practical matter, $84.75 million is fully guaranteed, since the 2026 guarantees vest on the 3rd day of the 2025 league year.

“The contract has an average per year of $27.5 million, $3 million more than the group of defensive tackles creeping toward the Aaron Donald/Chris Jones market-topping range of $31.6 to $31.7 million per year.”

The Las Vegas Raiders identified Christian Wilkins as a top target and paid him as such.

Christian Wilkins Las Vegas Raiders Contract Details Revealed

It would be an understatement to say Wilkins cashed in.

As Florio points out, there are some fascinating bonuses tucked into Wilkins’ new deal with the Las Vegas Raiders:

2025 offseason roster bonus: $20.5 million, fully guaranteed at signing. The bonus is due on the fifth day of the 2025 league year.
2026 base salary: $27.25 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed on the third day of 2025 league year.
2027 base salary: $23.25 million.

When the 2024 season begins, Wilkins will be the NFL’s second-highest-paid interior lineman, behind only Jones.

It remains to be seen whether the Las Vegas Raiders will seek to restructure Wilkins’ contract prior to his mammoth roster bonus triggering in 2025. That season, Las Vegas is projected to have $52 million in cap space, presuming the cap comes in as expected at $273.3 million.

Christian Wilkins a ‘Perfect Raider’

The Las Vegas Raiders have a fan of the deal in the NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.

“Christian Wilkins is a perfect Raider. Beloved by teammates,” Schrager said on Good Morning Football. The ultimate antagonist to opponents. His game, with Crosby and that motor, is very silver and black. I love this fit.

“Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce spoke about the Mahomes rules. They already had Maxx Crosby, and with Wilkins, now the Raiders have two players ready to implement them.”

Now, with Wilkins and Crosby, the Raiders have a defense capable of wreaking havoc on the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the AFC West.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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