Raiders' Maxx Crosby has Seen Christian Wilkins' Development

The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the biggest moves of the free agency period signing star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110-million contract.

Wilkins has developed into one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL since being the No. 13 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. 

After five seasons with the Dolphins, Wilkins opted to join the Silver and Black. He adds a game-wrecking presence on the interior, something the Raiders needed with the development of their edge defenders as pass rushers. 

Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby is one of the best defensive ends in the league, and Malcolm Koonce broke out as a potential star in 2023. When teams play the Raiders, there will be rushers from all over the defensive line. 

Crosby, the team’s heart and soul, has seen Wilkins’ improvement as a pass rusher. On Monday, he spoke with the media about what he likes about Wilkins’ game. 

“I think the main thing in his career that has stood out to me is just the fact he’s gotten better every single year,” Crosby said. “If you look from a production standpoint, look at his one-on-one pass rushes, his games, everything is consistently better. And there’s no secret to why he should have got taken care of because of what he’s done and how he’s continued to ascend, and he’s still young. And that’s something I really like to look at, especially with upcoming guys. He was written off early, too; a lot of people were doubting him like his first couple years in the league, and he’s continued to shut up all the doubters. So I respect the [expletive] out of that because I know what that’s like, and I know what that takes. So yeah, that’s something that really stood out to me. It’s just that he’s continued to get better and better every single season.”

In 2023, Wilkins posted 65 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, a career-high 23 tackles and nine sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he generated 58 total pressures. 

The Raiders added a monster presence on the interior. Crosby and Koonce will continue to create pressure off the edge, and now, Wilkins will join them in their race to the quarterback.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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