Adam Peters appears to be content with his defensive choices. That doesn’t mean the Washington Commanders should give up on their 2025 NFC championship run against the Philadelphia Eagles.
And at the very least, one shocking NFL development merits attention.
When the Las Vegas Raiders cut Christian Wilkins, their high-profile free agent acquisition from the Miami Dolphins, last year, it sent shockwaves around the league. The league was rocked by Jaws, but this story was much more complex than it first appeared.
Wilkins is coping with a foot issue at the moment. To fix the problem, the Raiders wanted him to have additional operation. However, the lineman declined after hearing several other viewpoints. He was quickly fired by Las Vegas, nullifying the remaining $35.2 million that was promised in his contract.
A “failure to maintain his physical condition to play” was the Raiders’ stated justification for their decision. Since things could quickly get out of hand, Wilkins moved quickly to have the NFLPA lodge a grievance against the team.
Following his astonishing release, commanders ought to investigate Christian Wilkins thoroughly.
Neither the Commanders nor anybody else cares what the outcome of the argument is. As long as the medical evaluations are satisfactory,
It’s not even close to Wilkins becoming the most sought-after veteran free agent on the market.
When healthy and playing at his peak, Wilkins is one of the league’s top defensive tackles. He still performs well against the run, as he did in Las Vegas the previous season. Pro Football Focus ranked the former Clemson star third among all eligible interior defensive lineman with an 80.2 run defense grade. He is also capable of creating pressure to increase his influence when necessary.
Wilkins will be the target of a long line of suitors. Naturally, the foot ailment is a serious concern, but the player is adamant that no additional surgery is necessary to address the condition. When other teams eventually show interest, it will be interesting to see what conclusions they draw because the Raiders had a different viewpoint.
In any case, the Commanders would have nothing to lose by finding out. It will end there if they are not completely persuaded by Wilkins’ prognosis. However, Peters would be remiss if they did not give the prospect of acquiring a top-tier performer in his prime some serious thought.
Nothing was gained or risked. But before Peters can take action, some research is necessary.
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