They didn’t trade for Amari Cooper. They didn’t pony up for Michael Gallup. But the Miami Dolphins did acquire a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver during this free agency cycle: Cedrick Wilson Jr., as CBSSports.com first reported. The contract details, according to NFL Network — three years, $22.8 million, with $12.8 million fully guaranteed.
Miami Dolphins agree to terms with Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Wilson joins a Dolphins offense that basically has just two reliable pass catchers on their roster: WR Jaylen Waddle and TE Mike Gesicki. DeVante Parker is also under contract in 2022, but he’s played a full season just once since entering the NFL in 2015.
Wilson is a more-than-adequate No. 3 option for Tua Tagovailoa. He caught 45 passes for 602 yards and 6 touchdowns in a career year with the Cowboys in 2021. Wilson, who had four starts for Dallas, also gives the Dolphins another option as a returner. He returned 11 punts in 2021, although he wasn’t particularly effective (3.3 yards per).
Wilson’s signing was far from the biggest news of the day, but it’s possible that the Dolphins simply got priced out of the wide receiver market. Christian Kirk agreed to a jaw-dropping four-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars worth at least $18 million per year.
How does the loss of Wilson affect the Cowboys?
Wilson is a draft-and-develop success story. The Cowboys took a flier on him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he didn’t play a down as a rookie after tearing his labrum. The Cowboys brought him back as a member of their practice squad for most of 2019, but his career really didn’t take off until the 2020 season.
His departure leaves the Cowboys with a diminished wide receiver unit. Beyond Gallup, who signed a new contract over the weekend, and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys have the likes of Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko, T.J. Vasher, and Brandon Smith on their roster. They did have Cooper’s rights in 2022 but traded him to the Browns in a salary dump.