Christian Wilkins’ Raiders release, explained: Why Las Vegas is parting ways with star DT, voiding over $35 million

In the 2024 offseason, the Raiders added former Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins on a significant contract, hoping he’d become a centerpiece of their defensive line.

However, after appearing in just five games for Las Vegas last season, Wilkins is set to hit the open market following some controversy.

The Raiders released Wilkins on Thursday with a “terminated vested veteran” designation, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, also voiding over $35 million in guaranteed money due to how Wilkins handled his rehab process.

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Here are the details of Wilkins’ release from the Raiders and why the situation could continue developing.

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Christian Wilkins Raiders release, explained

After five seasons in Miami, Wilkins signed a four-year, $110 million deal with the Raiders in 2024 after a nine-sack 2023 campaign. He was set to become a star piece on Las Vegas’ defense, with $84.75 million of his contract guaranteed.

However, Wilkins appeared in five games, registering two sacks, in 2024 before a fracture in his foot ended his season.

Ahead of training camp last week, Wilkins was placed on the reserve/PUP list by the Raiders, but the situation took a major turn on Thursday, with Schefter reporting that the team was releasing Wilkins from his deal.

According to Schefter, Las Vegas released Wilkins with a “terminated vested veteran” designation. The team also voided he remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money on Wilkins’ contract, citing the way the defender handled his rehab as the reason not to pay him the money.

Schefter added that Wilkins has filed a grievance with the NFL Player’s Association about the release and contract void.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also added that the Raiders and Wilkins had “an ongoing dispute over his foot and whether or not to have surgery.” The team wanted him to have surgery, while he didn’t, and there is “expected to be a fight” over the guaranteed money.

Even with the voided money, Wilkins already made a total of $49.7 million with the Raiders between the 2024 season and the new league year beginning for 2025, per Rapoport.

Las Vegas released a statement on Wilkins’ release on Thursday.

“We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins and he has been informed of his release from the team,” the statement said. “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 was necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season.”

pic.twitter.com/WV0sKoG7oQ

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 24, 2025

While it remains to be seen how the NFLPA will handle the situation with Wilkins’ contract, he is now a free agent either way, able to sign with a new team as an injured, but productive DT when healthy.

As of July 21, Wilkins was seen at the Raiders’ facility dancing in the weight room.

🚨‼️Raiders star Defensive Tackle Christian Wilkins is out of his boot and is dancing around the weight room a couple days before the start of training camp pic.twitter.com/By02QhbROs

— ShifftttyyyQB1🏴‍☠️ (@raiders1022) July 21, 2025

On Saturday, Nick Walters reported that Wilkins had an “incident” with a teammate that also led to his release from Las Vegas. However, the details of said incident are unknown, as Walters wrote that “sources within the team are being careful and won’t leak many details,” but it was a “very weird incident.”

What was Christian Wilkins’ injury?

Jones underwent surgery for a Jones fracture in October and missed the remainder of the 2024 season, per NFL.com. He was injured in the Raiders’ 34-18 loss to the Broncos.

A Jones fracture is a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in the foot, or the bone that joins your pinkie toe to the base of your foot, per Cleveland Clinic.

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Christian Wilkins stats

While Wilkins was unable to produce much last season due to injury, he was one of the league’s best defensive tackles in the years prior.

Here’s a look at his year-by-year stats: