If the Las Vegas Raiders (or any other team in the AFC West for that matter) are gunning for a chance to topple the Kansas City Chiefs from atop the divisional pyramid in 2025, following the script of the Philadelphia Eagles' plan of attack in Super Bowl LIX is a good way to go.
The Eagles got to Patrick Mahomes time and again with their front four due to the level of talent, brilliant schemes, and some issues on K.C.'s part up front. The pass rush got home time and again, even without relying on blitzes, and the Chiefs suffered an abysmal loss that had them limping into the postseason.
Unfortunately, the Raiders' chances of matching those efforts have taken a major hit.
It's easy to make jokes at the Raiders' expense, given their perennial spot in the basement of the AFC West, but their front line could and should be a bright spot. Maxx Crosby is one of the NFL's truly elite edge rushers, and the team made a major free-agent splash to add Christian Wilkins next to him along the interior. On paper, they form a dynamic duo that would be included a list of the league's top tandems.
The downside is that Wilkins might not be able to live up to his end of the bargain given his injury status. The Raiders have held their cards close to the vest on any timetable for a return from a fractured foot suffered last fall against the Indianapolis Colts. But the latest visual evidence says that Wilkins is still very much in a fragile place with the recovery process.
#Raiders DT Christian Wilkins is back in a walking boot (he was in attendance at Kyle Van Voy's charity golf challenge yesterday). It's the same foot where he suffered a Jones Fracture last October. pic.twitter.com/Uyro8XWUrD
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) June 24, 2025
Just last month, a report emerged that Wilkins had suffered a 'setback," although it was posited that the defensive tackle would be back by August. Perhaps that's still the case, but the Raiders are headed to training camp in one month, and being in a walking boot just four weeks prior makes it seem like there's a longer-than-expected road ahead.
It feels safe to wonder just how ready Wilkins might be when the regular season rolls around. Even if he's able to find his way back onto the field for some of the preseason, his effectiveness will be a focal point for not only the Raiders but the rest of the division.
While the offseason has looked positive in terms of organizational change for the Raiders, so much of what the team wants to do depends on how they fare in the trenches. Wilkins is a big part of that, either for better or worse.
