Raiders defensive sort out Christian Wilkins missed most of his debut 12 months 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” because of 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 defensive position, and an prolonged absence from Wilkins would make the place a dire want. That would impression the group’s plans within the upcoming draft.
Las Vegas, who holds the sixth general decide in Thursday’s draft, was considered a likely landing spot for Boise State operating 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 sort out Mason Graham and Missouri offensive sort out Armand Membou are the main candidates, per Pauline, in addition to Texas offensive sort out Kelvin Banks Jr., according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The potential for Wilkins to overlook time this 12 months 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 had 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 defensive position coach Rob Leonard, per Fowler, with a visitor look from potential teammate Maxx Crosby.
Nonetheless, some throughout the Raiders group are pushing for an offensive lineman, in keeping with Diana Russini of The Athletic. Left sort out Kolton Miller is searching for an extension within the final 12 months of his contract, and the brand new regime in Las Vegas might favor to draft his alternative as an alternative. Both Membou or Banks may compete for a beginning job at guard or proper sort out as a rookie with the long-term objective of taking on on the left aspect in a while.
The Raiders have additionally explored buying and selling up from the No. 6 decide, per Russini. They may very well be trying to soar the Jaguars for Jeanty after doing intensive work on him through the predraft course of.
