Rumor: Texans Could Sign Christian Wilkins of Dolphins; DeMeco Ryans’ ‘Right Guy’?

The Dolphins have decided not to place a franchise tag on Christian Wilkins, but will the defensive tackle be a potential suitor for the Houston Texans?

Christian Wilkins has been a staple of the Miami Dolphins' defense since he entered the league as the No. 13 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has been one of the most prominent defensive tackles in the league, notching 355 tackles and 20.5 sacks in 81 career games.

But despite his consistent production for five seasons, Wilkins will be on the move for the first time in his career. 

Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (94) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) tackle Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins have decided not to place the franchise tag on Wilkins, making the former first-round pick an unrestricted free agent. And given coach DeMeco Ryans' desires to enhance the defensive line, the Houston Texans could be a realistic destination for Wilkins. According to ESPN, the Texans are a potential landing spot for Wilkins.

"How can we get the right guys to complement each other, and play well off one another because that's how I see D-Lines play," Ryans said. "It's not about just one guy. It's a complement of eight guys who can come in and continue to put pressure on the opposing team."

The market value for Wilkins is a four-year, $80.9 million deal. With nearly $70 million in salary cap space, the Texans would have an opportunity to afford Wilkins. But more importantly, he could become one of Houston's most impactful players in 2024. 

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Wilkins is coming off a career year, where he recorded 65 tackles and 9.0 sacks across 17 games in 2023. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilkins earned a run-defensive grade of 71.5 run defense grade, ninth-best in the NFL among defensive interior linemen.