Cedrick Wilson signed a three-year, $24MM Dolphins deal 13 months ago, but the former Cowboys wide receiver is believed to be available. GM Chris Grier addressed Wilson’s status Wednesday.
The Dolphins have indeed taken calls on their No. 3 wideout, who is due $7MM base salaries in 2023 and ’24. While Grier said the expectation is Wilson will be back for a second Miami season, the possibility of a trade appears to remain.
“Teams have called; we’re not shopping him,” Grier said, via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. “We’ve had a couple teams reach out. He’s a real good guy. We’re trying to do right by him.”
Grier’s comments come a few weeks after the Herald report indicated Wilson was available. Since that report, the Dolphins have signed Chosen Anderson. The team already added Braxton Berrios, whom Grier said will play some slot receiver — while pointing to the ex-Jets target being locked in as the Dolphins’ new return man — and has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle entrenched atop the depth chart.
A 2018 sixth-round pick, Wilson, 27, disappointed during his first Dolphins season. In 15 games, Wilson caught just 12 passes for 136 yards and no touchdowns. Those numbers are obviously out of step with the contract Wilson signed and stand to drive down Wilson’s trade value. Grier’s comments on the team’s auxiliary receivers point to (via Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero) neither Wilson nor Anderson having a guaranteed place on the 53-man roster.
Anderson, 29, reached out to the Dolphins about a potential deal, Grier said, and spent multiple days in talks with wide receivers coach Wes Welker — in addition to talking with Mike McDaniel — before the Dolphins brought him aboard. Anderson is three years removed from his best season — a 1,096-yard year with the 2020 Panthers — but has not come close to replicating that performance since. Carolina interim HC Steve Wilks dismissed Anderson from the sideline during a loss to the Rams; the team traded him to Arizona a day later. A South Florida native, Anderson caught just seven passes in 10 Cardinals games.
“I told him don’t rush through this decision just because it’s home,” Grier said. “Talk to other teams. We have two dynamic players that are starters. We told him what the role would be and he’s excited and all in. We’re excited to add him. We didn’t promise him anything. We have good young players. He understood that.”
Beyond Waddle, the Dolphins do not have other notable rookie-contract wideouts on their roster. Trent Sherfield, who totaled 417 yards last season, signed with the Bills. That leaves the door open for Wilson, Anderson or Berrios to pick up the slack as a tertiary Tua Tagovailoa target.
I don’t see the point of saying the former cowboys receiver when he’s a current dolphins receiver. Nitpicking I know.
Otherwise nice write up
TBF, the better portion of his career to this point has been with Dallas.
LOL Chosen? He changed his name to “Chosen?!”
Pff, whatever. Anointed Anderson has a better ring to it.