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Pete Carroll Addresses Christian Wilkins Decision; Latest On Raiders’ DT Plans

July 25th, 2025 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders continue to struggle at giving Maxx Crosby a reliable supporting cast. Christian Wilkins has followed Chandler Jones as a free agency miss, one that came as the team’s top-10 Tyree Wilson investment has yet to produce much of consequence. Wilkins is out despite having been attached to the second-most lucrative defensive tackle deal.

As a fight between the surprising castoff and the Raiders brews, the team did not view the high-priced D-lineman’s recovery path as being set to yield a near-future return. As a result, Las Vegas cut bait and will move into training camp without much invested at defensive tackle.

“We watched our way through the whole thing,” Pete Carroll said Friday, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. “There was no clear path to his return. And so we just had to move on.”

The Raiders had given Wilkins a monster guarantee ($57MM at signing) despite the former first-round pick not delivering much in the way of pass-rushing production outside of an impressive 2023 contract year. Wilkins, though, had displayed dominance as a run defender in Miami and was PFR’s No. 4-ranked free agent last year.

The Dolphins had hesitated on a monster extension due to limited pass-rushing production from 2019-22; a nine-sack 2023 changed the team’s thinking but cap issues prevented a true effort to compete in that market last March. Wilkins is now in free agency again and fighting for the guaranteed money he received upon signing.

To land the biggest fish in last year’s pass-rushing market, the Raiders authorized three fully guaranteed years. That is a rare structure, but it showed the demand Wilkins created after escaping the franchise tag deadline untethered. With Chris Jones being taken off the market two days before the 2024 legal tampering period, Wilkins benefited as the top DT prize. The Raiders did not, seeing Wilkins go down five games into the season. The Wilkins signing affected the Raiders’ decision to fire GM Tom Telesco after one year.

If the Raiders cannot succeed in voiding Wilkins’ remaining guarantees, they would be on the hook for a staggering $74.95MM in dead money (split between 2025 and ’26) stemming from guarantees and deferred signing bonus money. That would trail only Russell Wilson‘s Broncos penalty in NFL history. The Raiders informed Wilkins of their attempt to void the remaining guarantees last month, per Bonsignore, though CBS Sports’ Joel Corry views Wilkins’ guarantees as difficult to void based on what is known about this situation. The team is attempting to use a disagreement on a surgical path as a springboard to voiding them.

On the field, the Raiders’ D-line looks less imposing — even if Wilkins was unlikely to start the season on time. The team does not appear to be aggressively pursuing outside help at D-tackle, with Carroll indicating a “wide open” internal competition would take place. Leki Fotu, Jonah Laulu and 2025 draftees Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues are competing to join the recently re-signed Adam Butler as prominent Raiders contributors inside following Wilkins’ release.

Finding a one-for-one replacement on Wilkins’ level is impossible at this juncture, but some notable free agents remain. Ex-Wilkins Dolphins teammate Raekwon Davis is among them, joining Linval Joseph, William Gholston, Quinton Jefferson, Montravius Adams and ex-Raider Maurice Hurst Jr.. Jefferson, who played with the Raiders in 2021 and enjoyed two stints under Carroll in Seattle (2016-19, 2022), also worked out for the team before the Wilkins release, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes.

The team also claimed DT Keondre Coburn off waivers from the Titans, Wilson adds. Not bringing experience that rivals Jefferson’s nine-season run, Coburn played in 15 Tennessee games — as a backup behind a strong D-line trio — last season. He is tied to a one-year, $1.03MM contract. The Chiefs drafted the 332-pound defender in the 2023 sixth round.

Jefferson, now 32, remains in free agency. A 62-game starter, Jefferson split time with the Browns and Bills last season. Seventeen of Jefferson’s starts came with the Raiders, while he added 27 more under Carroll as a Seahawk. Seattle released Jefferson during Carroll’s final offseason in charge.

Raiders Release DT Christian Wilkins

July 25th, 2025 at 9:25am CST by Ben Levine

JULY 25: Clarifying the matter of a surgery request on the team’s part, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Vegas attempted to have Wilkins undergo a second operation as a follow-up to his procedure in October. Wilkins’ preference to continue rehabbing instead of going under the knife a second time resulted in the tension between the parties which has now culminated in this release.

JULY 24: In a stunning move, the Raiders are moving on from one of the prizes of the 2024 offseason. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the team is releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

Per Schefter, the team is releasing Wilkins as a “terminated vested veteran.” The team was able to void the rest of the player’s remaining money ($35.2MM) following a dispute over Wilkins’ approach to rehabbing his foot injury. The voiding of guarantees happened last month, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, and the veteran subsequently filed a grievance with the NFLPA. Those events ultimately culminated in today’s sudden move.

We’re only a year removed from Wilkins signing one of the most notable contracts of the 2024 offseason. The defensive tackle inked a four-year, $110MM deal that included $57.5MM in guaranteed money. He only ended up getting into five games during his first (and lone) season in Las Vegas, as a foot injury ended his season early in October.

That Jones fracture reportedly required surgery, but there are conflicting reports about how Wilkins approached his recovery. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders wanted their investment to go under the knife, but the player refused after seeking multiple opinions. Meanwhile, Tashan Reed of The Athletic says the player did indeed undergo foot surgery, and today’s transaction stems from the player’s approach to rehab.

Either way, there was a clear lack of progress in his recovery from the injury, and this issue was at the root of a private battle that was “simmering” between the two sides for months, according to Russini. Vic Tafur of The Athletic adds that there have been “rumblings” about the player’s rehab for a while.

While the current Raiders’ regime wasn’t involved in the signing of Wilkins, the hulking defensive tackle was still one of the most talented players on the current roster. In other words, things must have gone very wrong between the two sides this offseason, and the team’s natural decision to void guarantees will only lead to more contention. Wilkins is surely done in Las Vegas, as his grievance will simply look to recoup any of that lost money. If the Raiders end up getting their way, they’ll only be on the hook for a prorated version of the player’s $24MM signing bonus (per Reed). This commitment comes via a restructuring from earlier this offseason.

The team clearly didn’t mince words in a statement announcing the transaction:

“This franchise has a Commitment to Excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season.”

Wilkins really didn’t bring much injury risk to Las Vegas. The former Dolphins first-round pick only missed a pair of games during his five seasons in Miami, and he appeared in all 51 games between 2021 and 2023. Over that span, the six-foot-four, 310-pound lineman compiled 252 tackles, 17 sacks, and four forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-10 interior defensive lineman in both 2021 and 2022.

The free agent addition was trending towards at least a top-20 PFF grade during the 2024 season. He started each of his five appearances with the Raiders, compiling 17 tackles and a pair of sacks while only missing a handful of snaps in his four healthy games. The injury ultimately ended that productive campaign (and his Raiders career) early.

Adam Butler ended up leading the position grouping in snaps in 2024, and the veteran will now definitively be at the top of the depth chart with Wilkins no longer in the picture. The team is also still rostering Jonah Laulu, one of the main beneficiaries of Wilkins’ injury last year. John Jenkins is gone after finishing second among Raiders DTs in snaps last season, but the team did replace him with free agent acquisition Leki Fotu, who started nine of his 11 games with the Jets in 2024.

Wilkins’ foot issue obviously clouds his immediate future, and it may delay his signing with another squad. When he is ultimately deemed healthy, he’ll represent the most impactful free agent on the market, even as teams make cuts to their preseason rosters. Thanks to his newfound free agency and his ongoing dispute with the Raiders organization, this story is far from over.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/25

July 22nd, 2025 at 8:42pm CST by Ben Levine

With training camps kicking off around the NFL, teams continue to make adjustments to their rosters. Here are today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: DT Dante Barnett
  • Placed on active/NFI: RB Zack Moss

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: K Mark McNamee

Houston Texans

  • Waived: CB Keydrain Calligan

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Waived: OT Savion Washington

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Waived: OT Obinna Eze

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Raiders, S Jamal Adams Agree To Deal

July 22nd, 2025 at 3:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamal Adams has his next NFL opportunity lined up. The veteran safety is signing with the Raiders, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.

Moments before news of the signing broke, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal noted Adams was present for a free agent visit. Things have clearly gone according to plan on this front. By taking a Raiders deal, Adams will reunite with head coach Pete Carroll.

The two worked together in Seattle for four years. Adams came to the Emerald City amidst major expectations based on the price paid to acquire him from the Jets via trade. The former top-1o pick exceled with 9.5 sacks during his debut Seahawks campaign, but things did not go according to plan from that point on. A decline in play (especially in coverage) along with multiple significant injuries ultimately led to a release last March.

As a free agent, Adams joined the Titans but wound up logging only 20 defensive snaps. The team granted his request to be released, and a Lions deal soon followed. The three-time Pro Bowler made just a pair of appearances, though, and to no surprise he remained on the open market deep into the summer this year. Adams expressed interest in a Jets reunion this spring, but with nothing taking place in that regard he will prepare for another season working with Carroll.

Seattle’s $17.5MM-per-year pact proved to be a problematic investment for Adams, and to no surprise he has not managed to land a deal near that value since his release. That will no doubt be the case as well with this Raiders agreement. The 29-year-old will join a safety room featuring free agent addition Jeremy Chinn and returnee Isaiah Pola-Mao in position to operate as starters. Adams could offer experienced depth and, with 83 starts to his name, step into a defensive role if needed.

In other Raiders news, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports safety JT Woods is being signed. The former third-rounder has made a total of 13 appearances in the regular season, each coming with the Chargers between 202-23. After a season without logging any game time, he will join Adams in looking to secure a roster spot in the secondary.

Raiders Place Christian Wilkins On Active/PUP List; DT Making Progress In Recovery

July 18th, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Christian Wilkins will not be available for at least the start of training camp. The high-priced defensive tackle was placed on the active/PUP list by the Raiders on Friday.

Wilkins can be activated at any time, which would not have been the case had he been given the reserve/PUP designation leading up to training camp. If the 29-year-old is not moved to the active roster by the time final cutdowns take place, he will be forced to miss the first four weeks of the campaign. That should not be expected in this case, however.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes Wilkins has been making “sound progress” while rehabbing the Jones fracture in his foot. The recovery process in this situation has proven to be long and arduous, with head coach Pete Carroll noting this spring it has been “challenging” for Wilkins to return to full health. As recently as late June, the former Dolphin had yet to shed a walking boot.

As a result, it comes as little surprise Wilkins will be unavailable for at least a portion of training camp. The Clemson product’s absence is nevertheless notable given the timing of his injury. Wilkins went down in Week 5 during the 2024 campaign, his first in Vegas. After a five-year run in Miami, he landed a free agent deal including $57.5MM fully guaranteed. Needless to say, expectations have not been met so far.

There is of course still plenty of time for Wilkins – who notched a career-high nine sacks in his final Dolphins campaign and posted double-digit tackles for loss each year from 2021-23 – to serve as a foundational member of the Raiders’ defensive interior. Returning to full health will be key as he prepares for the 2025 season, though, and there is clearly still work to be done on that front over the summer.

Raiders Agree To Terms With Second-Round WR Jack Bech

July 17th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Following the lead of many other teams around the league, the Raiders have finally agreed to a deal with their second-round pick. According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders agreed to terms with wideout Jack Bech.

While sixth-overall pick Ashton Jeanty has garnered much of the focus in Las Vegas, Bech also brings plenty of upside to the offense. The receiver burst onto the scene in 2024, his second season at TCU. Bech finished last season with 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns, and he earned the Senior Bowl MVP after hauling in the game-winning touchdown.

Thanks to that breakout performance, Bech was a Day 2 pick by the Raiders, with the organization using the 58th-overall pick on the receiver. In Las Vegas, he should have an immediate chance to contribute on an uncertain offense, although there’s no guarantee that he’s even the top rookie receiver on his squad.

Last month, we heard that rookie fourth-round pick Dont’e Thornton Jr. was pushing hard for a starting spot next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. That would leave Bech competing for any leftover reps with the likes of free agent acquisition Collin Johnson and rookie sixth-round pick (and former QB) Tommy Mellott.

With the signing, the Raiders have completed their draft pick signings:

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/14/25

July 14th, 2025 at 8:19pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

NFL teams are beginning to adjust their rosters as players report for training camp. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Molden ended the 2024 season on injured reserve after suffering a broken fibula in Week 17. He re-signed with the Chargers this offseason and was expected to be ready for training camp after offseason surgery. However, his placement on the PUP list indicates that he needs more time before returning to the field. The reason for the other PUP placements is unknown, as teams are not required to report injuries during the offseason. The five Chargers placed on the PUP list can be activated at any time.

Players To Spend Season On Franchise Tag Since 2015

July 13th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs and Trey Smith have just less than 48 hours to agree on a long-term extension; otherwise, the Pro Bowl guard will play on the franchise tag and negotiations will be tabled until 2026. That is 2025’s only tag situation as the July 15 deadline approaches.

Over the previous 10 offseasons, 77 players received the franchise tag. Many of those signed extensions before the midsummer deadline. Here are the players who did not and ended up playing the season for the tag price:

2015

Pierre-Paul’s infamous fireworks accident led to Giants rescinding $14.8MM tag, setting up revised agreement 

2016

2017

2018

Bell did not collect any money on his 2018 tag, being the 21st century’s lone franchise-tagged player to skip season

2019

Texans applied $15.9MM linebacker tag on Clowney, trading him to Seahawks in August 2019; edge rusher agreed to salary reduction upon being dealt

2020

Ravens, Judon agreed on compromise between defensive end, linebacker tag prices. Ngakoue agreed to salary reduction to facilitate trade from Jaguars. Vikings traded edge rusher to Ravens before 2020 deadline. Prescott received exclusive franchise tag from Cowboys.

2021

2022

2023

Raiders provided raise to Jacobs to bring him into training camp

2024

NFL Staff Updates: Commanders, Falcons, Raiders

July 11th, 2025 at 9:27pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders announced a number of new hires and promotions to their scouting and analytics departments this week.

In the scouting department, Charles Brensinger was promoted from scouting assistant to manager of scouting operations for his fourth year with the team. Before Washington, Brensinger spent seven years in Detroit — five as a pro scout — after internships with the Lions in 2012 and the Giants in 2013. Fellow scouting assistant Mitch Sterner was promoted to BLESTO scout in his second year with the organization. Sterner started in the NFL working in video for the Colts and Lions before a three-year stint in New England as a pro & college scouting assistant.

Filling one of the newly vacant scouting assistant positions will be Austin Walter. A former NFL running back, Walter joined Washington last year as one of two Nunn-Wooten scouting fellows.

In analytics, Doug Drewry has been promoted from manager of football research & development to director of football research & development. A lifelong Washington fan, Drewry made the move from finance to football analytics, joining the team six years ago. The department also announced two new football research & development assistants in Dylan Riordan and Aidan McCarty. Riordan was promoted to the position after serving as a football research & development intern in 2024.

Here are a couple other updates to staffs in the NFL:

  • The Falcons have hired Alex Brown to a position as an area scout, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This will be Brown’s NFL debut after a number of collegiate positions. He leaves his position as director of player personnel at Ole Miss after only a year. He spent two years at SMU before that, getting elevated from director of scouting to senior director of personnel/general manager of the Mustangs. He also held the director of football recruiting role at Rice after four years on the recruiting staff at the University of Houston.
  • ESPN’s Seth Walder reports that Jonah Lubin has been hired by the Raiders as a new football data science assistant. Previously a business intern for the Texans, Lubin was a semi-finalist in this year’s Big Data Bowl.

33 Unsigned 2025 Draft Picks Remain

July 9th, 2025 at 9:19pm CST by Ely Allen

The NFL has hit a logjam and is collectively lagging far behind where it normally is at this point in the offseason. Two years ago, the league hit its last 30 unsigned players before July. Last year, teams were signing rookies as quickly as they were drafting them, and only 10 players remained unsigned by June 17. A couple intriguing situations have caused pens to go quiet in 2025, and as a result, here are the 33 remaining unsigned rookies of the 2025 NFL Draft:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 4:

  • No. 107 (Jaguars): Jack Kiser (LB, Notre Dame)

In recent years, a trend has seen second-rounders lasting the longest, but what we’re seeing this year is unheard of. As rookies have been getting a bit of flexibility in negotiating structures of guarantees, getting deals done has become a waiting game of seeing what surrounding picks are getting for comparison. Last year, teams breezed through the issue, but 2025 has seen significantly increased troubles.

Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins set the tone by signing a fully guaranteed rookie contract, the first ever for a second-round selection. The next day, the Browns were essentially forced to do the same for Carson Schwesinger, picked one slot before Higgins. Shough, the Saints rookie quarterback, is seeking the same deal, hoping that his elevated status as a passer will help convince New Orleans to continue making history. Shough’s efforts have caused every pick between him and Higgins to stand pat, waiting to see if they get to ask for full guarantees from their teams, as well. This would be a drastic development, as last year’s 40th overall pick, Cooper DeJean, received only two fully guaranteed years with only partial guarantees in Year 3.

The biggest story outside of the second round is that of the standoff between Stewart and the Bengals. Stewart has issues with what he perceives as a lack of protection in Cincinnati’s offer that causes a contract default in any year to void any guarantees in all the following years. It’s a new precedent the team is trying to set, and Stewart seems intent on preventing them from doing so.

It will be interesting to see which standoff gets settled first: Stewart’s or Shough’s. The latter standoff ending would likely set off a domino reaction of second-round deals that would help a large number of teams close out their rookie classes. To this point, only four NFL teams have done so.

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