Dolphins' Wilkins: I've 'done a lot to earn a new deal'

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins believes he's next in line for a contract extension as one of the league's top interior defensive linemen.

"I definitely feel like I've done enough and done a lot to earn a new deal and a new contract," Wilkins said Saturday, per the team's media transcript. "But again, I'm just focusing on ball and improving every day and just giving my all to this organization and hopefully they'll give their all back to me."

Wilkins is fresh off a 2023 campaign that saw him rack up 98 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He also forced two fumbles and knocked down six passes.

The 27-year-old will make $10,753,000 on his fifth-year option and is letting his representation take the wheel on negotiations.

"The biggest thing with that, all that stuff, I just try to focus as much on ball as possible and leave all that other stuff up to the organization and my representation and just control what I can control with my guys and with this team."

Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans, and Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders all received lucrative extensions this offseason. The average annual value of their three deals is $23.3 million, per Over the Cap.

Wilkins is happy that interior defensive linemen are getting big paydays. "I just love it for the evolution of the game and how far we've come as a position," he said.

The 2019 first-rounder has 290 total tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 17 pass deflections in 64 career games with the Dolphins.

Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.