Christian Wilkins' departure from the Miami Dolphins grew to become official Thursday morning, a day after he mentioned goodbye in an Instagram put up.
Wilkins, who will be a part of the Las Vegas Raiders on a reported four-year, $110 million deal, will go down as one of many largest involving a Dolphins free agent, not simply due to the greenback quantity (the very best), however due to Wilkins' stature as a participant .
However the place precisely does he rank among the many Dolphins' most important free agent losses ever? And the place does Wilkins really rank among the many Dolphins' all-time defensive tackles? Talking of which, how about the place Wilkins ranks among the many Dolphins' 2010 first-rounders?
Let's have some enjoyable right here and supply a high 10 checklist in every class, clearly primarily based on this author's opinion.
WILKINS AMONG TOP DOLPHINS DEFENSE
This checklist is predicated solely on efficiency with the Dolphins and general contributions to the franchise
1. Bob Baumhower (1977-86) – 5-time Professional Bowl choice, greatest defensive participant on the Killer B's
2. Tim Bowens (1994-2004) – Ask Zach Thomas how vital Bowens was to his success
3. Manny Fernandez (1968-75) — Main contributor to Tremendous Bowl protection in Seventies
4. Randy Starks (2008-14) — Was utilized in quite a lot of methods in 3-4 and 4-3 defenses and at all times produced
5. Christian Wilkins (2019-23) — At all times a very good run defender, however then grew to become a move rusher in his fifth season
6. Ndamukong Suh (2015-17) — His tenure in Miami was unfairly criticized due to his contract, however he was nonetheless very productive for the Dolphins
7. Paul Soliai (2007-13) — Fourth-round choose began off very common however turned it on and have become a runner
8. Daryl Gardener (1996-2001) — An imposing bodily specimen who may very well be dominant however wasn't very constant and in addition handled again points
9. Vonnie Holliday (2005-08) — The veteran introduced in by Nick Saban was a strong starter and a frontrunner on protection
10. Brian Sochia (1986-1991) – The counter-flow nostril sort out was chosen to the Professional Bowl in 1988
WILKINS AMONG THE DOLPHINS 2010 FIRST ROUND PICK
As with the earlier checklist, it is a participant's efficiency with the Dolphins
1. Mike Pouncey (2011) — Anchored the offensive line for half a dozen years
2. Christian Wilkins (2019) — Was a starter from day one
3. Laremy Tunsil (2016) — Gave the Dolphins three good seasons earlier than his mega commerce
4. Ja'Wuan James (2014) — James was a strong beginning righty earlier than leaving as a free agent
5. Ryan Tannehill (2012) — Tannehill by no means blossomed till he went to Tennessee, however began for seven seasons
6. Jared Odrick (2010) — Odrick was a strong begin, however by no means a distinction maker.
7. DeVante Parker (2015) — Parker's tenure was identified extra for accidents than manufacturing
8. Minkah Fitzpatrick (2018) — The Dolphins didn't get an opportunity to completely maximize Fitzpatrick's expertise earlier than his conflict with Brian Flores led to his commerce to Pittsburgh
9. Charles Harris (2017) — Harris grew to become a utility participant for the Detroit Lions, however didn't produce a lot for the Dolphins
10. Dion Jordan (2013) — We don't really want to revisit and clarify what went flawed right here, will we?
WILKINS AMONG TOP DOLPHINS FREE AGENT DEPARTURES
That is essentially the most troublesome checklist as a result of we’ve got to mix the scale of the participant, the scale of the contract, but in addition the place the participant has been in his profession.
WR Irving Fryar (1996) — A part of the massive purge after Jimmy Johnson changed Don Shula as head coach, Fryar was a Professional Bowl vast receiver earlier than and after his departure.
DT Christian Wilkins (2024) – Wilkins by no means made a Professional Bowl, however he was a staple for the Dolphins together with his play and management.
LB Bryan Cox (1996) — The guts of the Dolphins protection in Shula's remaining years, Cox was by no means in a position to ship for the Chicago Bears
CB Troy Vincent (1996) – A former first spherical choose, Vincent went on to make a number of Professional Bowls for the Eagles
DE Olivier Vernon (2016) — Beginning star move rusher Vernon left after the Dolphins put the transition tag on him after which canceled it
DE Cameron Wake (2019) – The Dolphins' 2010 MVP was a part of the massive 2019 purge
T Richmond Webb (2001) – Webb gave the Dolphins 11 nice years earlier than leaving for Cincinnati
T Jake Lengthy (2013) – This was vital as a result of Lengthy was the primary general choose within the 2008 NFL Draft and will have been headed to the Corridor of Fame if not for his knee points.
RB Ricky Williams/RB Ronnie Brown (2011) — Dare we mix these two as a result of they performed so properly collectively (pun supposed)
DE Jason Taylor (2010) — We'll end with the longer term Corridor of Famer who left as a free agent to signal with the rival New York Jets after being traded to Washington in 2008 after which returning the next season. He would return in 2011 for a 3rd and remaining stint.
