'Hard Knocks' Provides One View of Christian Wilkins as a Pass Rusher
The Miami Dolphins' decision to not give Christian Wilkins the kind of contract he desired before he left as a free agent was hotly debated, but the first episode of the new "Hard Knocks" offseason show might have provided a clue.
The Dolphins watched Wilkins leave for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason after they gave him a four-year, $112 million contract after he entered free agency as one of the top defensive tackles on the market.
The New York Giants, the team featured on this new "Hard Knocks" variation after the Dolphins got the in-season treatment last year, were one of those teams in the market for an impact defensive lineman, but they decided he wasn't worth the contract it would take to sign him — despite pleas from Wilkins' former Clemson teammate and close friend Dexter Lawrence to pair them up in the middle of the Giants front four.
After singing the praises of Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and saying they couldn't afford him — he re-signed with the Chiefs — Giants director of pro scouting Chris Rossetti made an eye-opening point about Wilkins: "I don't think he's a difference-making pass rusher on third down."
Giants scout on Christian Wilkins on Hard Knocks: "I don't think he's a difference-making pass-rusher on third down, which is what we need opposite Dex(ter Lawrence)."
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 3, 2024
Last season, 30 of Wilkins' 66 total pressures came on third down. pic.twitter.com/6kAb0F0s8n
WILKINS' BIG PASS-RUSHING SEASON
The stats, as pointed out by USA Today NFL analyst citing Sports Info Solutions, actually show Wilkins being highly effective as a third-down pass rusher last season — even on a par with Jones.
Per those stats, the New York Jets' Quinnen Williams led all NFL interior defensive linemen in third-down pressures with 30, followed by Wilkins, Jones and DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts with 28 apiece.
In terms of overall pressures, Wilkins was fourth among all interior defensive linemen behind only Jones, Justin Madubuike of the Baltimore Ravens and the now-retired Aaron Donald of the L.A. Rams.
Interestingly, Wilkins teamed up with Emmanuel Ogbah for a third-down sack of Daniel Jones on the final play of the first quarter when the Giants played at Hard Rock Stadium last October.
The Giants eventually did get their pass rusher when they traded for former Carolina Panthers first-round Brian Burns, while Wilkins went to Las Vegas to team up with star defensive end Maxx Crosby.
As for the Dolphins, they hope to make up for Wilkins' lost production alongside Zach Sieler — whose 10 sacks topped Wilkins' total by one and had 27 pressures himself — with a committee of new defensive tackles, whose combined 2024 salary won't come close to $28 million.
ALAIN POUPART
Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.