The Las Vegas Raiders recently made a shocking move, releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins just one year into his massive four-year contract.
Wilkins was released with the designation of terminated vested veteran, and though he seemed to be ready to return following rehab for the foot injury he suffered last season, the Raiders are attempting to void the remaining guaranteed money on his contract after he opted not to have a second surgery.
The Raiders moved quickly to replace Wilkins, claiming defensive tackle Keondre Coburn off waivers from the Tennessee Titans.
“No surprise, he’s a good player. Good chance for Coburn to get playing time in Vegas after they released Christian Wilkins,” Justin M of The Draft Network wrote on X.
Former #Titans DT Keondre Coburn quickly finds a new home. No surprise, he’s a good player.
Good chance for Coburn to get playing time in Vegas after they released Christian Wilkins. https://t.co/x5un631gtH
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) July 25, 2025
Coburn was a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and got extended playing time for Tennessee last season, appearing in 15 games and logging 14 combined tackles.
Listening to the way head coach Pete Carroll and the rest of the Raiders organization discussed the Wilkins situation suggested that they did not agree with how he was handling himself behind the scenes.
Leki Fotu and Adam Butler are projected to be the starters at defensive tackle with Wilkins out of the picture, and while Coburn is a nice addition, it’s hard to fully digest such a seismic move during this time of the year.
Wilkins was one of the most dominant interior linemen in the NFL prior to last season, and replacing him is not going to be easy.
