The Miami Dolphins lost one of the league’s best interior defenders this offseason, how will they adjust?
Things will look different for the Miami Dolphins defense now that Christian Wilkins has signed a four-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. The 2019 first-round pick ranked first among all defensive tackles with 968 snaps played last season.
Zach Sieler ranked fourth with 924 snaps and will be the team’s anchor in the trenches, but that hasn’t stopped Miami from signing six defensive tackles to fill the void left by Wilkins.
“It’s one of those bittersweets,” Sieler said of Wilkins signing with the Raiders. “It’s awesome, I loved playing with the guy, but I’ll tell you, it’s great seeing him get paid and go somewhere else and make an impact over there.
“But in reality, this defense and this d-line isn’t built off of just him or him and I or whoever inside. It takes a whole rotational front. It takes everybody up front. So it’s been really cool getting to know these, getting to play with these new guys coming in and learning their techniques and habits and how we can play off each other this year.”
Former Houston Texans tackle Teair Tart signed with the team in early April. Neville Gallimore appeared in 33 games with the Dallas Cowboys over the last two seasons. Jonathan Harris had 34 tackles in 17 games with the Denver Broncos in 2023. Benito Jones is back in the building after two seasons with the Detroit Lions.
“It’s been great getting to know them,” Sieler said of the defensive tackle group. “Some of those guys are really twitchy, active with their feet and really kind of watching that and it’s going to be really cool as we go through OTAs with coach Anthony [Weaver], [Austin] Clark, and all these guys kind of learning how we grow together and build a really good defense this year.”
The Dolphins featured a disruptive defense that led the league with an 8.42 sack percentage while allowing 23 points per game. Wilkins had nine sacks in 2023 after back-to-back seasons averaging 94 tackles.
Sieler reached 10 sacks last season — more than the three previous years combined — and hopes to elevate his production playing in first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.
“I think with or without Christian, no matter what, that’s the goal every year,” Sieler said. “So that’s my plan. I don’t care who’s next to me; I’m going to find a way to make it work and we’re going to make it right.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login