Dolphins Want to 'Do Right By' Cedrick Wilson Jr., and That Likely Will Be a Trade
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The Miami Dolphins plan to “do right by” Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Those were General Manager Chris Grier's exact words after he acknowledged on Wednesday that Miami has fielded trade calls for the seldom-used veteran receiver heading into the NFL draft next week.
Grier stressed that he’s received even more calls about Wilson this week after Miami added veteran receiver Chosen Anderson, who has started 86 NFL games.
“We’re not shopping him, but teams have called. And especially when we just added Chosen, we’ve had a couple of teams reach out,” said Grier, whose team would benefit from the salary cap relief by moving Wilson. “He’s a really good guy and I’m trying to do right by him because of how he’s handled himself on and off the field.”
Grier is referring to how Wilson has handled himself since joining the team last offseason when he signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the intent of competing for a starting role.
Problem is, Wilson ended up becoming the forgotten receiver once Miami traded for Tyreek Hill, and after journeymen receiver Trent Sherfield leapfrogged him on the depth chart last season.
Wilson caught 12 passes and turned them into 136 yards in the 15 games he played for Miami. He mainly ended up being used as a punt returner, but averaged a modest 7.5 yards on 13 returns. However, he did have a 50-yard return in the playoff loss to Buffalo.
“He’s an incredible professional,” Grier said.
WHY WILSON COULD BE TRADED
Problem is he likely doesn’t fit in Miami’s future, and if $5 million of his $7 million salary for this season weren’t guaranteed, the Dolphins likely would have released him.
It is possible that Wilson could resurrect his career in Miami, but the best move for everyone involved would be to find a team interested in acquiring him. But that might require the Dolphins to make a few concessions, like being responsible for some of Wilson's salary in 2023.
The Dolphins made a similar move in 2019 when they picked up $5 million of quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s restructured contract to facilitate a trade to Tennessee for a swap of late-round picks in 2019, and a fourth-round pick in 2020.
The Dolphins sent Tannehill to the Titans, along with a 2019 sixth-rounder and $5 million to unload Tannehill’s contract, and acquire a 2019 seventh-round pick and a 2020 fourth-rounder.
A similar move might be needed to help find a new team for Wilson.
POTENTIAL TRADE PARTNERS FOR WILSON
It doesn’t hurt that 2023 is viewed as a weak receiver draft class. There are 17 teams that have receiver as one of their top four needs headed into the draft.
Of those 17 teams, 12 (the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks) have the cap space required to pull off a deal for Wilson.
In 2021, Wilson experienced a breakout season filling in as a front-line receiver for an injury-ravished Cowboys offense. That season he caught 45 catches for 602 yards and six touchdowns, so it’s possible Dallas could be one of the interested teams calling Grier.
The Cowboys own picks No. 129 (fourth round), 176 (fifth), 212 (sixth) and 246 (seventh round).
Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is the new Chargers play-caller, so it’s possible he could have interest in a reunion with Wilson. The Chargers receiver unit has annually been ravished by injuries, so Wilson could be a solid insurance plan since he already knows Moore's offense.
The Chargers own picks No. 125 (fourth round), 158 (fifth), 200 (sixth) and 241 (seventh round).
The Texans also have been mentioned in media reports as a team that might be curious about Wilson, who has a reputation for being intelligent and a good team player.
The Texans own 12 picks in the 2023 draft, and there’s widespread speculation they could move down from pick No. 2 overall in a move that could add more picks.
The Dolphins, who own a league-low four selections in the 2023 draft, would benefit from adding more Day 3 picks. Houston owns three sixth-round picks and two seventh-round selections.
A trade for Wilson could involve a swap of picks and/or a player another team wants to unload who plays a position of need for the Dolphins, who would benefit from adding offensive linemen, defensive linemen, a tight end and more safeties.
Grier openly admits he’s had conversations about Wilson, so he likely knows where a handful of interested teams stand with their offers, and this will more than likely be a draft-week or draft-day decision.
