Clemson football: Wilkins on verge of huge payday
It appears Clemson football alum Christian Wilkins may be in South Beach for the longer term as the Dolphins appear to want to sign him to a long term deal.
Wilkins served as an honorary coach at Clemson’s spring game on April 9.
A league source told the Sun Sentinel that a multi-year extension for Christian Wilkins is a ‘goal’ before the May 2 deadline.
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) April 16, 2022
“Such a deal could make Wilkins one of the NFL’s 10 highest-paid defensive tackles.” pic.twitter.com/3eznrnAvlv
May 2 is the deadline for team to exercise fifth-year option for players selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Wilkins is currently on a four year contract worth a total of $15,439,100 after being the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
His fifth-year option would pay the former Clemson star $10,753,000 for the 2023 season if a long term deal is not done and the Dolphins pick up the fifth-year option.
Wilkins has 192 career tackles in his first three seasons, including 8.0 sacks and an interception and also scored a touchdown as a fullback this season, much as he did at Clemson.
In 2021 Wilkins his best statistical season with 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
The 6’3 1/4, 315 pound Wilkins, played at Clemson from 2015-2018 and was part of two National Championship teams.
Wilkins finished his career at Clemson with 192 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 15 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Christian Wilkins pic.twitter.com/coyDK6ukZL
— Seldom Used Reserve (@seldomusedres) April 3, 2022
Wilkins gregarious personality was a hit at both Clemson and with the Dolphin fan base and was front and center at the 2019 NFL Draft where he famously shoulder-bumped NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on national television.
Behind all the laughs and good times is a really good football player, that is expected to command a salary in the $13,000,000-$16,000,000 range, that the Dolphins hope to anchor their defensive line for a long time.
Wilkins is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts and attended Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut before matriculating to Clemson as a 5-star prospect.
It’s been a huge offseason for many former Clemson players including Deshaun Watson being traded to Cleveland and signing a massive new contract, Sammy Watkins signing with the Packers and joining Amari Rodgers and Ray Ray McCloud signing with the 49ers.