The NFL’s deadline for franchise or transition tagging a player has come and gone, and the Miami Dolphins opted not to use theirs on defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
Now, Wilkins, who had a career-high nine sacks in 2023, will hit the free-agent market where he’ll likely receive a huge contract that will pay him roughly $20 million annually.
One player who took umbrage with Miami’s decision was former Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy, as he shared his thoughts on social media.
Not surprised but this is somebody who embodies being a Dolphin … Captain, has gotten better every year, and does the right thing when it comes to being a true professional! Hopefully a team around the league sees that and begs him to join their team! This dude loves football… https://t.co/R8u80uHzvl
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) March 4, 2024
While many Dolphins fans are calling Van Noy’s reaction “sour grapes” on social media because of the way his tenure in Miami ended, he’s not wrong.
Wilkins did everything that was asked of him over the last five seasons, and in 2023, he even improved his pass-rushing, which was the one thing that detractors pointed toward as a potential weakness in his game.
If the defensive lineman doesn’t return in 2024, the Dolphins will be a worse team, not just because of the loss of his production, but also because of the loss of his leadership and discipline.