Dolphins exercise fifth-year option on defensive tackle Christian Wilkins
The Dolphins are exercising the fifth-year option for defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, the team announced Thursday, keeping him with the team through the 2023 season.
The deadline for NFL teams to exercise the fifth-year option for 2019 first-round picks is May 2 but the Dolphins’ decision on Wilkins was all but a formality after general manager Chris Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine in March the team would likely exercise the option.
“He had a heck of a year here last year,” Grier said. “I would say most likely. But we’ll make that decision.”
The fifth-year option will pay Wilkins, 26, approximately $10.7 million in 2023 for reaching playing time criteria in his first three seasons. Wilkins’ 2023 salary is the average of the third to 20th highest salaries at his position over the past five seasons. Exercising Wilkins’ fifth-year option also gives both sides more time to work on a potential contract extension.
In 2021, Wilkins had his best season to date. He recorded a career-high 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Wilkins has emerged as one of the team’s best players and a leader. Pro Football Focus graded Wilkins as the sixth-best interior lineman last season.
Wilkins is once again expected to be a major contributor on a defense set to return all 11 starters from the previous season. The Dolphins defense, which led its 8-1 finish in 2021, finished 10th in Football Outsiders’ efficiency rankings.
This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 9:23 AM.
