A long-rumored Minnesota Vikings target has resurfaced, this time with some additional context.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Christian Wilkins is still rehabbing a foot injury but is preparing to play in 2026. Wilkins’ agent also claims that the former Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle has already heard from 26 teams.
Considering the likelihood that his two former teams, the Raiders and Miami Dolphins, haven’t dialed him up, and the fact that Wilkins has some ties to Minnesota, it’s safe to assume the Vikings were one of the teams to check in. Wilkins would definitely bring plenty of intrigue to the defense, but also some baggage. So does a Wilkins-Flores reunion make any sense for the Vikings?
Christian Wilkins was Flores’ first draft pick as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who took him 13th overall in 2019. Coupled with the fact that Minnesota could use some help inside, there are many ways this could come together. But while Wilkins fills a position of need and has connections to the coaching staff, there are still some concerning — and even bizarre — reasons why the Vikings may want to steer clear.
Wilkins suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 5 of 2024. As a result, the Raiders released him in the summer of 2025, just one season after signing a monster $110 million deal. It was a swift end to what was supposed to be the addition of a cornerstone player to pair with Maxx Crosby. The injury and how it was handled were just one of the issues with Wilkins, though.
After releasing Wilkins, the Raiders tried to void $35.2 million in guaranteed salary on his contract because of how he handled the injury. The team apparently wanted him to get surgery, but Wilkins declined.
Another oddity in all this was the report that, while in Las Vegas, Wilkins attempted to kiss a teammate, who took offense. A complaint was filed with the Raiders’ HR. While it’s not the sole reason Wilkins is still looking for a job, it could remain a potential roadblock for teams looking to avoid off-field distractions.
Ignoring team doctors and using team meetings for inappropriate conduct are hurdles for any team looking to take a flyer on the 30-year-old. But when Wilkins was on the field, he was impressive. In his last full season in 2023, he notched nine sacks with the Dolphins and was on pace for another strong season with Las Vegas before the injury.
Christian Wilkins shows great lateral movement as he controls his gap. Causes Joe Alt to run into his RB. Destroys the run play all on his own! #StopTheRun #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/n7ASkTiIDz
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) September 8, 2024
He had two sacks through five games and was one of the better run defenders in the league, ranking third-best in the NFL among defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
Christian Wilkins is, or was, exactly what Minnesota’s defense needed last season from their own pair of failed free-agent signings in Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. The Vikings were the 21st-ranked run defense in 2025, and could have used Wilkins’ 45 career tackles for loss. Still, it’s been literal years since Wilkins was putting up those types of numbers, so there’s no guarantee he’s anywhere close to the same player.
The pre-injury numbers are promising, but the fact that Wilkins is still rehabbing a foot injury from 18 months ago should be a giant, flashing red sign to the Vikings. It would be a big assumption to think that Wilkins, nearly two years removed from play, could return to be the same dominant player he was. Of course, Wilkins knows he’ll have to prove himself, so any contract shouldn’t be too expensive. However, with what precious little cap the Vikings are still clinging to, they might be best served to look elsewhere.
However, maybe Wilkins will be fully healed and ready to roll this year. It’s probably true that Flores has much more insight into the player and the man than most other coaches in the league do. Therefore, some red flags for other squads might be moot to him. The Vikings still need a run-stuffer up the middle, but other options may present a clearer path forward.
With the breakout of Jalen Redmond and the promising outlooks of Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, it feels like the Vikings should sit this one out. The connections to Flores are a wild card in this situation, but with Wilkins’ nagging injury, there are too many questions for this to be a reliable option.
Most likely, the Vikings will add another piece in the draft on the defensive interior. While that would make Redmond the seasoned veteran at just 27, Minnesota needs at least some youth on this roster after years of poor drafting. Wilkins’ injury and the amount of time it’s taking to heal are too risky for a team that needs a lot to go right this season.