Raiders release Christian Wilkins, look to void part of $110M contract

The Raiders have released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and are seeking to void the remaining $35.2 million in guarantees on his contract.

The move puts a dramatic end to Wilkins’ tenure with the Raiders, who signed him to a four-year, $110 million contract in the 2024 offseason with $82.75 million guaranteed. He played in just five games before suffering a Jones fracture in his left foot that cost him the rest of the season.

Wilkins finished with two sacks and 11 tackles.

Wilkins was on track to return as early as the end of last season, but endured a setback to his surgically repaired foot, which sidelined him for the offseason program. Coach Pete Carroll said in May that Wilkins faced a long recovery, then said his status remained uncertain when the Raiders opened training camp this week with Wilkins on the physically unable to perform list.

Behind the scenes, the wheels were already in motion toward a breakup after the Raiders quietly moved over the summer to begin the process of removing the guarantees from the contract.

The Raiders, now led by Carroll and general manager John Spytek, disagreed with Wilkins on the best course of treatment. A person with knowledge of the situation indicated the organization thought another procedure was necessary, but Wilkins did not.

That prompted the Raiders to void the remaining guarantees on Wilkins’ contract. They are claiming conduct detrimental to his rehabilitation, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

As expected, Wilkins’ agent filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association.

The situation reached an irreconcilable point within the past few days, and the team released a statement Thursday announcing its decision to cut ties with the 29-year-old Massachusetts native.

“We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins, and he has been informed of his release from the team,” the statement read. “This franchise has a commitment to excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play for Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season.”

The remaining guarantees include Wilkins’ 2025 salary of $8 million and his 2026 salary of $25.25 million. The 2026 salary was guaranteed for injury at signing.

Wilkins was the prize of general manager Tom Telesco’s lone offseason running the organization. He had not missed a game because of injury in his first five seasons, all with the Miami Dolphins. He missed two games while on the COVID list.

Wilkins, a first-round pick out of Clemson in 2019, had 20½ sacks and 204 tackles in his first five seasons and was coming off a career-high nine sacks when he hit free agency in 2024. His deal was the largest awarded to a defensive free agent that offseason and second-highest overall behind quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The expectation was that Wilkins would pair with end Maxx Crosby to form one of the best defensive lines in the league.

“We’re definitely building something,” Wilkins said at the time. “I talk to Maxx all the time to understand how he sees the game. We’re nowhere near where we want to be as a duo, but we’re about being at our best and getting 1 percent better every day.”

They produced one win on the field together.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow@VinnyBonsignore on X.