Although the Patriots are trying to round out their roster to be dominant in all phases of the game, having a defensive-minded head coach inevitably means they'll likely have a stronger defense than anything else. That has been the case so far under Mike Vrabel and is expected to remain the case going into the 2026 season.
The new head coach took what had been a forgettable defensive unit, besides a few players, most notably Christian Gonzalez, and helped them become a top-10 group in the NFL in 2025. The hope is to build upon that in 2026, and they now have a chance to add a former first-round pick into the mix.
That's the latest update from NFL insider Adam Schefter, who revealed defensive lineman Christian Wilkins intends to play this upcoming season.
He's still recovering from a foot injury suffered in 2024, making him miss all of last year, and because he was unexpectedly released by the Raiders, he's now a free agent.
Free-agent DT Christian Wilkins fully intends to play this season, but still is rehabbing his foot injury, per his agent David Mulugheta. So far 26 teams have reached out and are waiting for Wilkins to be ready, and Wilkins is expected to have a new home as soon as he wants. pic.twitter.com/RIZvd0mxA4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2026
The former Dolphins superstar earned a massive contract with the Raiders in 2024, signing a four-year, $110 million deal with $84.75 million guaranteed. But after his injury and some alleged questionable behavior in the locker room, the team released him, and now he's looking to make a comeback.
The Patriots should be a team that inquires about him.
Christian Wilkins should be on the Patriots' shortlist of free agents to sign
With Christian Barmore and Milton Williams set to return for the 2026 season, there isn't an immediate need to add a player like Wilkins into the mix. But he would create one of the more dominating defensive lines in the NFL, and that is an opportunity the Patriots cannot pass on.
He is a proven talent on the field. He would inevitably bolster the group the Patriots have already put together while also helping to offset the losses of K'Lavon Chaisson and Khyiris Tonga in free agency.
Not only would he add more pass rush help, but he's also a solid run stopper, which will be even more valuable since the defense was one of the best in that area in 2025. It'll take a big hit with Tonga no longer on the field, so adding Wilkins makes even more sense.
There are questions that come with signing him, mostly revolving around what kind of contract he's looking for, on top of concerns about his behavior that led to problems with his former teammates. If Vrabel isn't concerned about that, then there's no reason not to inquire about bringing him to Foxboro.
Who knows, maybe the Patriots are one of the 26 teams that have already reached out to Wilkins about his availability. That would be a good sign for what they're trying to build on defense. They could continue their rise in the ranks for the 2026 season by adding him, and that's exciting to think about after just how impressive they were last year, especially in the Super Bowl.