LAS VEGAS — Coach Pete Carroll said Friday the Raiders did their due diligence before making the decision to release high-priced defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

“We watched our way through the whole thing,” Carroll said after training camp in his first public comments since the team announced the transaction Thursday.

The Raiders did not think Wilkins was on track to return anytime soon from the foot injury that limited him to five games last season.

“There was no clear path to his return,” Carroll said. “And so we just had to move on.”

The Raiders aren’t just cutting ties with Wilkins, who signed a four-year, $110 million contract in the 2024 offseason with $82.75 million guaranteed. They are also voiding the remaining $35.2 million in guarantees.

The decision to void the guarantees stems from a disagreement between the club and Wilkins on how to proceed in his recovery from the Jones fracture he suffered last season. A person with knowledge of the situation indicated the organization thought another procedure was necessary, and Wilkins did not.

When the 29-year-old arrived at camp, the Raiders placed him on the physically unable to perform list. That designation is typically designed for players who fail their physicals and cannot be cleared to practice.

Moving forward

The Raiders informed Wilkins of the decision to void the guaranteed portion of his contract last month. As expected, his agent filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association.

While the contract situation is sorted out through the grievance process, the Raiders are moving forward, trying to replace Wilkins’ projected production. He finished last season with two sacks and 11 solo tackles, though much more was expected throughout a full season.

“This place is about competition; it always has been,” Carroll said. “It’s just wide open.”

Among the players expected to get first crack at filling the hole are veteran defensive tackle Adam Butler, promising second-year prospect Jonah Laulu, 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson and 2025 draftees Tonka Hemingway and JJ Peagues.

“We have a good, young, spunky group of guys.” Carroll said. “And the young guys that came in this past draft are part of that competition, too.”

Laulu-Wilson rotation?

For the first time since the Raiders opened camp this week, they extensively pitted the first-team offense against the first-team defense during 11-on-11 periods Friday. The defensive line rotation might have offered clues on the initial plans to replace Wilkins, specifically the way the Raiders utilized Laulu and Wilson.

Laulu lined up alongside Butler on early downs, with Wilson replacing him in known passing situations. Wilson was drafted as a defensive end, but played quite a bit on the inside during his first two seasons.

On Friday, he was bracketed by edge rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, a sign the Raiders hope to maximize their best pass rushers in those situations.

“I think this is really his time,” Carroll said of Wilson, pointing out the improvements he showed last season by producing career highs in quarterback pressures (37), sacks (five) and hurries (26).

“I’m counting on him to do stuff in a big way,” Carroll said. “And that’s not just outside of the end where he is a real natural. We’re moving him around, trying to see what we can do and work and complement with our other rushers.”

Laulu’s impressive showing during organized team activities and minicamp has carried over into camp. His ability to be an anchor against the run while growing as a pass rusher makes him an ideal candidate to start alongside Butler.

“I can’t lie,” Crosby said. “Jonah is a special talent, dude can play. He doesn’t even know it yet, but he’s going to be a hell of a player.”

Laulu, a seventh-round pick by Indianapolis last year, was claimed off waivers by the Raiders when the Colts cut him at the end of training camp. The Centennial High product appeared in all 17 games, including seven starts, and finished with one sack and 35 total tackles.

“He’s playing really hard,” Carroll said. “He’s playing really smart, and he’s making a bid for it.”

©2025 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.