Would Christian Wilkins be signed by the Lions?
Detroit Lions fans hoping to win a Super Bowl in 2024 would be well advised to add a formidable player to their defense. Although EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson had a fantastic season in his second NFL season, he was often subjected to double teams and extra attention from opposing offensive lines. As a result, the team would benefit from adding another defensive lineman, and Christian Wilkins of Miami is a possible candidate, as he is heading toward free agency after rumors circulated that the Dolphins do not intend to franchise tag him.
Therefore, when free agency begins on March 13, he might be available to sign.
With five NFL seasons under his belt, Wilkins has amassed 20.5 career sacks, with a career-high nine in 2023. Last season, he recorded 23 quarterback hits for the Dolphins in addition to 65 tackles, including 10 for loss.
The young teams with strong playoff aspirations for the upcoming season, the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans, have already been connected to the gifted defense.
Being a versatile lineman, Wilkins can make a significant impact both against the run and the pass. According to Pro Football Focus, he had a 70.8 pass-rush grade and a 69.5 run defense grade at the end of the previous campaign.
With 61 pressures in the previous season, the defender would have been second only to Hutchinson on the Lions’ squad. For a defense that struggled to do so in 2023, getting pressure on the quarterback from the defensive interior would be extremely beneficial.
Wilkins’ best play of the season was a strip-sack/forced fumble/fumble recovery against the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season finale, according to Poupart. “With 98 tackles, Wilkins set a record for the position that was surpassed by Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers this past season, leading all NFL interior defensive lineman in that category.
Hutchinson was the lone player to record ten or more sacks in 2023, which helped Detroit finish near the bottom of the league in sacks. None of the other players on the roster had more than three, with defensive tackle Alim McNeill having five.
Although Wilkins is able to move throughout the defensive line, he would make a good combination with McNeill, who has established himself as a reliable member of the Lions’ defensive interior.
Last year, Detroit’s defensive line was occasionally thin on depth, which became particularly apparent after McNeill sustained an injury. Towards the end of the season, the Lions found themselves largely dependent on veteran Tyson Alualu.
There are two intriguing, yet rather untested, options: Brodric Martin and Levi Onwuzurike. Onwuzurike was sidelined last season and missed the entirety of 2022 due to a back issue. Martin, meanwhile, participated in just three games.
Wilkins has the potential to make a significant impact and will be a valuable asset wherever he ends up. Given the requirements of the Lions, it would be a big deal that would indicate Detroit wants to contend for a Super Bowl.
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