Wilkins Ends Hold-in; Vows To Give Dolphins His Best Season

Dolphins and Christian Wilkins aren't close on a contract extension that compensates him like one of the NFL's top defensive tackles

Christian Wilkins hasn’t received the contract extension he’s wanted from the Miami Dolphins, but that that doesn’t mean the team captain is holding any hostility toward the franchise that selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

In fact, Wilkins ended his hold-in with the Dolphins on Tuesday, and pledged his allegiance and commitment to the organization, the fans and his teammates for one more season, contract extension or not.

“At the end of the day, nobody wants to be a Miami Dolphins more than me. Nobody wants to work for this organization more than me,” said Wilkins, who has started 60 of the 64 games he’s played the past four seasons. “That’s where I’m at with everything still. This is my home. I was drafted here. I love this place. I put my all into being the best player, the best leader, the best teammate, the best Miami Dolphins I can be. The organization deserves that. My teammates deserve that and these fans deserve that.”

WILKINS A FULL PARTICIPANT IN PRACTICE

Wilkins spoke to the media for the second time this offseason at the conclusion of a practice in which he was a full participant, and said his focus is back on football, and not the business of the NFL.

Negotiations between Wilkins and the team have hit a stalemate because of the amount of guaranteed money offered and the average salary per year Wilkins is requesting.

However, an extension potentially could get done at any time this season.

The goal for Wilkins and his camp was to get a multi-year deal done that provides him the same framework as extensions other defensive tackles around the league have signed this offseason.

Quinnen Williams ($24 million average, $48 million fully guaranteed, per overthecap.com), Jeffery Simmons ($23.5 million average, $48 million full guaranteed), Daron Payne ($22.5 million average, $46 million fully guaranteed) and former Clemson teammate Dexter Lawrence ($22.5 million average, $46.5 million fully guaranteed) all got big-money deals this summer.

"At this point, I'm just focused on being the best teammate I can be and being there for my guys, and getting ready to play a game again, focused on the season," Wilkins said. "As far as that's concerned, whether or not something gets done, I'm focused on the season -- we've got a game to play in two weeks.

“I’m here to be the best teammates I can be, and be here for the guys. Whether or not something gets done I’m focused on being here for my guys and having the best year of my career, and for us to have the best year we can have as well.”

WILKINS' 2023 SALARY AND 2024 OUTLOOK

Wilkins is scheduled to play the 2023 season under his fifth-year option, which is worth $10.7 million guaranteed. At that salary he's the sixth-highest paid Dolphins player in 2023.

Even beyond this year, the Dolphins still could keep Wilkins around by putting the franchise tag on him, which would provide him a one-year deal for $22.2 million, per overthecap.com.

Put that franchise tag price together with his fifth-year option and the Dolphins would be paying Wilkins $32.9 million for the 2023 and 2024 season. That breaks down to $16.5 million a season, which could be a tipping point for Miami from a negotiating standpoint.