Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins’ final on-screen comments of Hard Knocks: In Season included a lot of “yous” and not a lot of “wes.”
Wilkins, a Dolphins team captain whose contract expires in eight weeks, got in front of his defensive teammates in the losing locker room at Arrowhead Stadium late Saturday and didn’t exactly say, “Let’s run this back!”
Did Christian Wilkins Play Final Game With Miami Dolphins?
Here were Wilkins’ comments, as captured by Hard Knocks, in full:
“I just want to say man I love y’all boys. And helluva effort all year. I know that this wasn’t the way we thought the season would end, but I’m proud of all of us. All year, the way we fought. This was the most fun I’ve had in the league since I’ve been in it.
“I love y’all boys. Y’all made this year special for me, and I just want to say thank y’all. Love y’all. Keep fighting. Remember this feeling when you’re training in the offseason. Take this s— with you for real. And have the right mindset when you come back next year and just be ready to kill everything. Love y’all.”
The final speech from Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and Christian Wilkins, an impending free agent. pic.twitter.com/BUE2HMrqM6
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) January 17, 2024
Wilkins’ remarks set off a bit of panic among Dolphins supporters on social media. Wilkins is a fan favorite and the heart and soul of Miami’s defense.
He also intends to get what he believes he’s owed in free agency.
Wilkins over the summer turned down what Dolphins general manager Chris Grier categorized to reporters Monday as a market-value contract extension offer.
“Christian and I actually had a really good conversation today,” Grier said. “I was very happy for him. He bet on himself after a summer of negotiations where we made a couple offers and one we felt very good about, was fair, and he and his representation said as much, but we couldn’t close that gap at the end.
“So he bet on himself, and it paid off for him. I’m very happy for him. So we’ll stay in communication and see where this ends up, but he earned the right to be a free agent. Again, I’m happy for him. We drafted him here, developed him here, and he’s the type of person we’re looking for. So we’ll see what happens.”
So the question isn’t if the Dolphins want Wilkins back, but if they can afford him.
Per Spotrac, Wilkins’ estimated market value is $81 million over four years. The $20.2 million AAV would rank seventh among NFL defensive tackles.
MORE: Why Miami Dolphins Are ‘Not Really Concerned’ About Being $40M+ Over the Salary Cap
The Dolphins could elect to franchise tag him, but that estimated 2024 cap charge of $19.7 million would further complicate a balance sheet that is already tens of millions of dollars in the red.
Wilkins in 2023 set career highs in sacks (nine), pressures (30), and quarterback hits (23).
Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!
Listen to the PFN Dolphins Podcast
Listen to the PFN Dolphins Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Dolphins Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Dolphins Podcast on our NFL YouTube channel.
This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.
