Sorry, Bears Fans: Christian Wilkins Signs Mega-Deal with Raiders

If you’re like me and had visions of Christian Wilkins sacking quarterbacks dancing through your head, well, you still can. But he’ll be in a Las Vegas Raiders uniform.

The former Dolphins star agreed to a four-year, $110 million deal with the Raiders, ending any hope that the Chicago Bears would finally land that dominant three-technique defensive lineman.

Splash: One of the top free agents is off the market, as #Dolphins star DT Christian Wilkins is headed to the #Raiders, sources say.

He gets a 4-year deal worth $110M base value that includes $84.75M guaranteed in a contract done by @DavidMulugheta of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/aKwKFIfU5T

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024

The Bears still have a chance to add a premier pass rusher like Danielle Hunter or Chase Young, and some of the top wide receivers (Calvin Ridley Jr., Marquise “Hollywood” Brown) remain unsigned at the time of this writing.

General manager Ryan Poles has been busy at the start of NFL free agency, already locking up two new starters in safety Kevin Byard and running back D’Andre Swift.

Perhaps the Bears have enough confidence in second-year defensive lineman Gervon Dexter to feel a contract north of $100 million was too much to cough up for Wilkins. If Chicago doesn’t add competition for Dexter during the rest of free agency or with an early-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it’ll speak volumes about their expectations for him in Year 2.