Patriots Eyeing Christian Wilkins for Defensive Line

0:00It's March 20th, here's your NFL news in two minutes. Subscribe to stay locked in all season. The New England Patriots have taken a quieter approach to free agency this off season compared to last year, but they've still locked in some key players recently. Now, eyes are turning to defensive tackle Christian Wilkins as a possible addition, especially with his comeback plans heating up. Wilkins built a strong career over five seasons with the Miami Dolphins before signing a four-year deal worth $110 million with the Las Vegas Raiders. He appeared in just five games there before the team released him ahead of the 2025 season, citing a foot injury and some team issues. That injury kept him out all last year, but he's pushing hard to return in 2026. His agent says he's still in rehab, yet 2016's have already shown interest and are waiting for him to get healthy enough to sign. As a Massachusetts native, Wilkins might find playing close to home appealing with the Patriots, who already have Milton Williams and Christian, Barmore at defensive tackle.

1:03He could step in on a short-term proven contract while building back his value. With his market likely to move fast once he's cleared, the Patriots seem smart to keep tabs and see if a deal makes sense down the line.