The problem is glaring. The solution is obvious. That Christian Wilkins remains a free agent and a team like the Kansas City Chiefs hasn't even kicked the tires on a visit feels like a disconnect. Unfortunately, things aren't so straightforward as "problem meets solution."
For the sake of review, in case the problem isn't so glaring or the solution so obvious, Wilkins was, as of one year ago, the newest member of the elite $100 million defender club. Only 13 players in the NFL have signed a contract with nine figures attached, and the Las Vegas Raiders coughed up the hefty financial commitment in free agency in 2024.
Wilkins' deal was actually for quite a bit more than that: a four-year deal worth up to $110 million. At the present moment, only six players have a total contractual value more than that on the defensive side. Among interior linemen, only Chris Jones of the Chiefs has a larger deal. Wilkins is, or was, that good.
What went wrong with Christian Wilkins
For the Raiders, the acquisition of Wilkins was supposed to cement a new fearsome defensive front with Maxx Crosby and Wilkins as the anchors. Wilkins had just put up 61 pressures and 9 sacks in his final season with the Miami Dolphins, making him one of the rare truly disruptive tackles in the league. Players like that don't become available on the open market, which is why the Raiders were elated with the opportunity.
Instead, things went awry from the start. Wilkins suffered a foot fracture just five games into his Raiders' career. The Raiders were 2-2 before his injury, but including the game in which he was hurt, Las Vegas would go on to lose its next 10 games. In short, the season spiraled out of control following Wilkins' injury.
Wilkins had an initial surgery on his foot, but the Raiders wanted a second procedure. The tackle refused and chose rehabilitation instead. The team responds by voiding contractual guarantees, and via the NFL's Players Association, Wilkins files a grievance. From there, the Raiders released Wilkins as further reports emerged of concerning locker room behavior—that he "playfully" kissed a teammate on the head—on the lineman's part
The glaring need for the Chiefs
As for the initial problem presented, the Chiefs' biggest roster need is found in its defensive front. If Chris Jones isn't on the field (or properly motivated), the pass rush is non-existent. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is heavily dependent upon his blitzing schemes, often to great effect, but the Chiefs have a near-impossible time getting home only rushing their front four.
The actual interior feels even worse. The Chiefs allowed Derrick Nnadi to walk in free agency to the New York Jets for minimal money, which showed they were ready to move on in the spring, only to trade back for him when active roster cuts were due. And it's not as if the Jets were enamored with Nnadi in the first place. The Chiefs then signed Mike Pennel at midseason after oddly releasing him in late August.
After losing second-round pick Omarr Norman-Lott to a torn ACL, the unit is aging and lacking. Wilkins would represent a major upgrade for any team in the National Football League—he's just that good—but for the Chiefs, he would be a godsend. Unfortunately, signing Wilkins isn't as simple as whether or not he is available or interested.
The complications involved in signing Wilkins
Veteran players available late in a season are almost always at the end of their careers. If they get an opportunity at all, it's a desperate call from a team in need, hoping there's a bit of gas left in the tank. Think the Chiefs' signing of D.J. Humphries in 2024 to solve a serious wound at left tackle. But Wilkins is the anomaly here. Unless he's completely let himself go, he could arrive tomorrow and offer something meaningful for most teams—definitely the Chiefs.
More importantly, winning trumps all in the NFL (because it generates more money), which is why most issues with an impactful player are overlooked. That Wilkins is still sitting there speaks volumes about the complexity of the situation.
First, no one can be quite sure how healthy Wilkins will be. If a necessary surgery was neglected, and he hasn't played for more than a year, there are immediate medical questions involved for any interested team. That's hurdle one.
Second, and this is the greatest uncertainty involved, the grievance between Wilkins and the Raiders is still very much an active concern. The next step is for an arbitrator to get involved, but despite the timeline stretching back to July since both parties submitted their concerns, nothing has proceeded from that point. That makes Wilkins' financials a bit confusing.
If Wilkins believes a ton of money is coming his way, there's little financial incentive to accept anything more than another lucrative deal from another team. And the Raiders will surely want any new money to offset what they owe Wilkins, which still remains to be seen. And so far, there's been no reported timeline for any next steps involved.
Finally, it's impossible to tell how teams view Wilkins internally. Wilkins was lauded for his reliable productivity and leadership traits while at Clemson. However, his own coach admitted he was "goofy" and that a quirk like kissing someone in the locker room might not be such a stretch for someone who was also criticized for grabbing Curtis Samuel's groin in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Wilkins was later fined for grabbing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen near the same area in 2022.
It's hard to believe a team would call this a true red flag. There's no real public relations concern that would cause an owner to shackle a general manager wanting to add such a talented player. Are there some maturity issues? Will some in the organization say Wilkins goes too far in his playful antics or trash talking? The answers there could be positive, but again, winning is everything.
The major barriers to Wilkins joining a team like Kansas City are health and finances. Is Wilkins going to pass a team's physical? And how will the grievance play out? If the parties involved would only provide some sort of timeline for the latter, it could lead to a visit to test the former. Until then, the game's greatest free agent will remain off the field, despite the obvious need for his services.