Uncertainty surrounds Las Vegas Raiders defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, who remains to be rehabbing from a Jones fracture in his left foot.
Vinny Bonsingore of The Las Vegas Review Journal lately famous he believes Wilkins can be able to play by August, however his well being is “something to monitor.”
In free company in March 2024, the Raiders signed Wilkins to a four-year, $110M deal, including $82.75 million guaranteed. However he performed in solely 5 video games in 2024 earlier than struggling the fracture and missed the rest of the season.
The Raiders hope he is prepared for coaching camp, however they should have a contingency plan if he isn’t.
Listed below are three free-agent defensive tackles for Las Vegas to contemplate ought to Wilkins miss prolonged time:
William Gholston
Gholston (6-foot-6, 281 kilos) has performed his whole NFL profession with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since they drafted him within the fourth spherical of the 2013 NFL Draft. He is accustomed to Raiders common supervisor John Spytek from their time collectively in Tampa Bay, the place Spytek served as director of participant personnel (2016-2020) and assistant GM (2021-22).
Gholston would supply veteran management and be complement to All-Professional finish Maxx Crosby. The Raiders may use him on a rotational function foundation, aiding DT Adam Butler, a lot as Gholston realized from Ndamukong Suh in Tampa Bay.
Quinton Jefferson
Is it time for a reunion time for Jefferson (6-foot-4, 290 kilos) and the Raiders? He solely spent one season with the Raiders, in 2021, earlier than taking part in for the Browns and Payments final season.
If Jefferson, 32, have been to return to Vegas, he would reunite with head coach Pete Carroll, whom he performed for from 2016-2019 and 2022 with the Seahawks. Final season, Jefferson completed the season with two sacks, a good whole for a DT over 12 video games.
Linval Joseph
Joseph is 36, however he might be productive. Final season, his lone season with the Dallas Cowboys, he had 19 tackles, three QB hits, two sacks and a pressured fumble in 17 video games.
Joseph (6-foot-4, 329 kilos) hasn’t had a stellar season since 2021, when he logged 57 tackles with the Los Angeles Chargers. Nevertheless, he may complement Butler, who had a resurgence final season with 65 tackles and 5 sacks.
