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.