A disappointing decade-long tenure with the LA Chargers wasn't enough to scare the Las Vegas Raiders away from general manager Tom Telesco. The Raiders hired Telesco just weeks after their 63-21 win over the Chargers got him fired. And in short time, Telesco made the same mistake with the Raiders that he did time and time again with the Chargers.
Telesco signed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a massive $110 million contract during the 2024 free-agent period. The move was hyped by Raiders fans at the time but Chargers fans knew the reality: paying this much for a player entering his 30s was a mistake.
Well, it seems like the Raiders learned their lesson quicker than anyone could have expected. After a disappointing season that only resulted in five games played, the Raiders are officially releasing Wilkins in a shocking move.
Raiders suffer from same Tom Telesco fate the Chargers did
Some Chargers fans were worried when the Raiders signed Wilkins but those who know how Telesco operates knew this would happen. Telesco did an awful job building up the depth around Wilkins, and less than two seasons later, Wilkins is out of Vegas.
Telesco himself didn't even last long enough to be the one that released him. The Raiders fired Telesco after just one season at the helm, which brings into question why the team even hired him in the first place.
In classic Raiders' fashion, this situation is going to get messy. This is not a simple release where both sides move on. The Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million in guaranteed money on Wilkins' contract, prompting Wilkins to file a grievance with the NFLPA.
Vegas vetoed the money because of how Wilkins treated the rehab for the foot injury he suffered last season. Wilkins was recently seen in a walking boot, bringing his availability for the 2025 season into question.
As far as next steps, the Chargers could be a team that looks to capitalize on the Raiders' misfortune. Signing Wilkins at that price was a horrible deal, but signing him to a one-year flier near the league minimum would be an excellent move by the Bolts.
Of course, this is assuming he is ready to play in 2025. It's not worth the effort if Wilkins is going to miss most of the 2025 season, even at a cheap price.