Who is Christian Wilkins? Las Vegas Raiders land free-agent DT from Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins didn't use their franchise tag on Christian Wilkins, which made the defensive tackle one of the best available free agents at any position.

With DT considered Cincinnati's most pressing need in free agency, many fans wanted the Bengals to pursue Wilkins. But Wilkins received a four-year deal from the Las Vegas Raiders worth $110 million base value, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, including $84.75M guaranteed.

The Bengals' mix at DT includes BJ Hill set to return, and DJ Reader scheduled to become a free agent as he recovers from a torn quad.

What to know about Wilkins:

Wilkins and Reader were Clemson teammates for one season.

Reader's final season with the Tigers was 2015, when Wilkins was a freshman.

Reader played six games at defensive tackle that season; Wilkins played in 11 games. Clemson lost to Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship.

In addition, Wilkins and Bengals receiver Tee Higgins were teammates at Clemson in 2017 and 2018. And Bengals offensive lineman Jackson Carman was their teammate with the Tigers in 2018.

Bengals defensive line coach Marion Hobby has coached Wilkins, in the NFL and in college.

Hobby, Cincinnati's D-line coach since 2021, was the Dolphins' D-line coach in 2019 and 2020.

Earlier, Hobby was Clemson's co-defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach from 2011 to 2016.

Wilkins faced off against current Bengals OT Jonah Williams in the 2019 CFP title game.

Wilkins and the Clemson Tigers routed Williams and the Alabama Crimson Tide, 44-16, in college football's championship game January, 7, 2019, at Levi's Stadium.

In April's 2019 NFL draft, the Bengals selected Williams 11th overall, and the Dolphins took Wilkins two picks later at No. 13.

Wilkins' first NFL touchdown came against the Bengals, on a pass from a former Bengal.

Wilkins scored the Dolphins' first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard pass from ex-Bengals QB Ryan Fitzpatrick during Cincinnati's 38-35 overtime loss to Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2019.

Wilkins recorded his second career sack in the same game.

Wilkins scored another TD on a 1-yard catch in a Miami win against the New York Jets about two years later.

Wilkins had 11.5 sacks through his first four NFL seasons. He had nine last season.

Wilkins' sack total in 2023 was twice as many as he'd had in a previous season.

He also totaled 23 quarterback hits, 10 more than his previous best for one season.

It was Wilkins' third consecutive season of playing in all 17 of the Dolphins' regular-season games.

From The Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith via Twitter/X:

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Christian Wilkins: Las Vegas Raiders land free-agent DT from Miami