Raiders defensive deal with Christian Wilkins missed most of his debut yr in Las Vegas after season-ending surgical procedure to restore a Jones fracture in his foot. Now, according to Sportkeeda’s Tony Pauline, he’s prone to lacking “a good portion of the 2025 season” attributable to a possible second process on his foot.
Wilkins signed a four-year, $110M contract with the Raiders final March which made him the second-highest-paid DT within the NFL. He recorded 2.0 sacks in his first 5 video games in Las Vegas earlier than touchdown on injured reserve. The Raiders already want depth alongside the inside of their line of defense, and an prolonged absence from Wilkins would make the place a dire want. That might affect the group’s plans within the upcoming draft.
Las Vegas, who holds the sixth total decide in Thursday’s draft, was considered a likely landing spot for Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty. Now that he’s trending towards the Jaguars at No. 5, the Raiders are anticipated to pivot to the trenches with their first-rounder. Michigan defensive deal with Mason Graham and Missouri offensive deal with Armand Membou are the main candidates, per Pauline, in addition to Texas offensive deal with Kelvin Banks Jr., according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The potential for Wilkins to overlook time this yr might tilt the Raiders’ curiosity in the direction of Graham, who’s the consensus DT1 within the 2025 class. Common supervisor John Spytek and minority proprietor Tom Brady have been roommates in Ann Arbor in faculty and will look so as to add one other Wolverine to the combination. Graham additionally had an extended name with line of defense coach Rob Leonard, per Fowler, with a visitor look from potential teammate Maxx Crosby.
Nevertheless, some inside the Raiders group are pushing for an offensive lineman, based on Diana Russini of The Athletic. Left deal with Kolton Miller is in search of an extension within the final yr of his contract, and the brand new regime in Las Vegas might favor to draft his substitute as a substitute. Both Membou or Banks might compete for a beginning job at guard or proper deal with as a rookie with the long-term objective of taking on on the left facet in a while.
The Raiders have additionally explored buying and selling up from the No. 6 decide, per Russini. They may very well be seeking to soar the Jaguars for Jeanty after doing intensive work on him throughout the predraft course of.
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