Last summer on HBO’s Hard Knocks, fans learned that the New York Giants had Christian Wilkins on their board heading into the 2024 offseason. Instead, they opted to trade for Brian Burns, who they signed to a five-year deal after acquiring him from the Carolina Panthers. Wilkins ended up signing a five-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Fast forward a year later: Burns is heading into his second season on the Giants’ defense, while Wilkins was surprisingly released by the Raiders this past week, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, with a designation as a terminated vested veteran.