Wilson Becomes First WR to Leave
The Miami Dolphins' projected 2024 wide receiver corps heading into the offseason was one big mystery beyond Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but now we know it won't include Cedrick Wilson Jr.
In a move that should have been expected, Wilson is leaving via free agency, agreeing to terms with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.
Wilson became an unrestricted free agent this offseason when his contract voided last month, the result of a change in the original three-year contract he had signed when he came over from the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.
The Dolphins signed Wilson that offseason to a three-year, $21 million contract that seemed to suggest he was in line for a significant role on the Dolphins, something that didn't materialize in his first season after the Dolphins acquired Hill in the mega trade with the Kansas City Chiefs and Wilson was bypassed for the third receiver role by fellow free agent pick-up Trent Sherfield.
After Wilson caught only 12 passes in that 2022 season, his production increased significantly last year when his snap more than doubled, in part because of the injuries that slowed down both Hill and Waddle.
Wilson caught 22 passes, fourth on the team among wide receivers behind Hill, Waddle and Braxton Berrios, and scored three touchdowns — against New England in Week 8, Kansas City in Week 9 and Baltimore in Week 16.
Once his contract was adjusted last year and turned salary into a restructure bonus, 2024 was turned into a void year and all but signaled his departure this offseason.
Because Wilson became a free agent after his contract was voided, he became ineligible to become a compensatory free agent, so he will not factor into that formula regardless of what other moves the Dolphins make this month or beyond this offseason.
WHERE THE DOLPHINS WIDE RECEIVER CORPS STANDS
Wilson was among the five wide receivers who became unrestricted free agents Wednesday, along with Berrios, River Cracraft, Robbie Chosen and Chase Claypool.
The Dolphins do have four receivers on the roster besides Hill and Waddle, but Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz and Matthew Sexton all were players signed to future contracts earlier this year and the other is 2022 fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma, who missed almost all of last season because of a neck issue that head coach Mike McDaniel said dated back to his college days at Texas Tech.
Of the remaining four free agents, Cracraft is the only one who joined the team before last season, so it might figure he'd be the most likely to be re-signed. Next on the list probably would be Berrios because of his return ability.
Claypool was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward acquisition when the Dolphins got him from the Chicago Bears last October in a swap of late-round picks, but he ended up playing only 22 offensive snaps in his last six games of 2023.
