Why Wilkins Might Be Chris Grier's Best GM Move

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins already is under contract for 2023, but a contract extension this offseason is expected

INDIANAPOLIS — The contrast between Chris Grier's comments at the scouting combine this week regarding the contract situations involving Tua Tagovailoa and Christian Wilkins was pretty stark.

Actually, those involving Wilkins was somewhat atypical for the Miami Dolphins GM, who tends to be very careful about tipping his hand whenever he's asked about upcoming personnel decisions.

But when it comes to Wilkins and the likelihood of him getting a contract extension this offseason, Grier was about as definitive as he gets."

"Ever since we drafted him, has done nothing but get better each year," Grier said. "He is a tireless worker, as we’ve talked about. You guys have heard me talk about how he works around the building. He’s in every day. He’s still in the offseason. I’ve seen him around more than anyone. He loves the game. He loves our organization. We love him. We’d like to have him here for a long time.”

It was similar to Grier's response at the combine last year when he was asked about the possibility of exercising the fifth-year option on Wilkins.

To be sure, the situations involving Wilkins and Tagovailoa are somewhat different and this should be meant in no way, shape or form as some kind of attack on Tua.

It says more about Wilkins, and what he's come to mean to the Dolphins.

WILKINS AMONG GRIER'S BEST MOVES AS DOLPHINS GM

It's now been seven years since Grier officially became general manager of the Dolphins, and he took Wilkins in the first round of his fourth draft in 2019, and it has to rank as one of his best personnel decisions.

The argument even could be made it's been his best.

Sure, we need to mention the trade of Laremy Tunsil to the Houston Texans because of the insane return the Dolphins were able to get and parlay into even more picks, though the flip side is the Dolphins couldn't find an even remotely close replacement for Tunsil until Terron Armstead arrived last offseason.

Then we could mention the trade for Tyreek Hill because of how transformative he was for the offense last season, but then there's the heavy price to factor in.

We'd also include getting two first-round picks simply to move down from third to 12th overall in the 2021 draft, but that was somewhat negated (in our view) by the follow-up trade surrendering one of those extra 1's to move up from 12th to sixth — though it's hard to complain when that sixth pick became Jaylen Waddle.

When it comes to draft selections, it's hard to top getting Xavien Howard in the second round, which Grier did in his first draft in 2016.

But the selection of Wilkins with the 13th overall pick in 2019 also has proven to be a great call.

Wilkins has been a starter since he arrived from Clemson, he's gotten better and better every year to the point where his performance easily was Pro Bowl-caliber in 2022 even though he wasn't selected.

Beyond his statistical contributions, Wilkins has been a leader.

This is what you call a great first-round pick, and it's unfortunately something that's not always happened with the Dolphins.

If he does get an extension, Wilkins will become the first Dolphins first-round pick to get a second contract with the team since 2015 first-rounder DeVante Parker. Before, it was 2012 first-round pick Ryan Tannehill.

And it says here neither were as productive as Wilkins.

Truth is, he's been one of the most productive players on the team that past couple of seasons and he should continue to be for the foreseeable future.