Dolphins’ Cedrick Wilson Jr.: ‘I want to be here’ amid trade speculation, receiver competition

When Cedrick Wilson Jr. signed a three-year deal worth $22 million with the Dolphins last offseason, he had hopes of parlaying a career-high 600-yard season as a Dallas Cowboy into a larger role.

But a week later, Miami made a surprise trade for All-Pro wideout Tyreek Hill, pushing Wilson down the depth chart. And as the 2022 season progressed, Trent Sherfield emerged as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver. By the end of his first season in Miami, Wilson had posted 12 catches — his fewest since 2019 — and his most meaningful contribution was as a punt returner.

In April, general manager Chris Grier acknowledged that teams have called about trading for Wilson. But after Wednesday’s OTA practice, the second open to media this offseason, Wilson stated his desire to be in Miami after another strong effort to secure the No. 3 receiver role.

“I work out every offseason to perform when the games come,” said Wilson, 27. “I want to be here. I’m here right now. That’s what it’s granted to be, so I’m going to give it my best.”

With not only Sherfield but tight end Mike Gesicki departing in free agency, there’s an open competition for a new player to garner targets behind Hill and Jaylen Waddle. When head coach Mike McDaniel was asked who could replace Gesicki’s production in the offense, he said it’s not limited to tight ends and could include receivers.

“There’s several capable candidates to catch some balls and be an impactful part of this team I would say at all the offensive skill positions and the proof is in the pudding,” he said. “You go out there to practice and there’s a good amount of talent. ... I think that there’s a lot of young players, some veterans, that recognize the opportunity and are really going after it.”

Wilson is one of the multiple candidates vying to be the Dolphins’ third receiver, along with players such as Robbie Chosen and Braxton Berrios. In the two voluntary practices open to media, both of which Hill hasn’t participated in, Wilson has stepped up, perhaps reminding many why he was one of the league’s most productive slot receivers in Dallas. He has been a frequent target for quarterbacks in team drills and on Wednesday brought in a nifty sideline catch from Mike White.

While Wilson doesn’t have the speed of Hill, Waddle or even Chosen, he excelled at finding separation and yards after catch in his career-best 2021 season, both important aspects of McDaniel’s offense.

“Anybody can get the ball at any time,” Wilson said of the offense. “And the way coach schemes it up, you really don’t know who’s getting it. But we have, what, five ball players on the field at any time.”

Though 2022 didn’t go as envisioned, Wilson never complained about his role and Grier praised his professionalism. Asked how it felt to not contribute much, Wilson said: “When stats [aren’t] there, it just feels like you’re not playing football. If I play, then the numbers are going to match.”

In the middle of the 2022 season, Wilson volunteered to take on punt return duties as the Dolphins didn’t have a player designated for the role. Wilson hadn’t returned a punt since 2019 but had a key 50-yard return in the team’s wild-card round loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“I felt like I wasn’t being used on offense. So punt return, I felt like nobody was there to do it and I felt like that was the only way I could help at the time,” Wilson said. “And I just stepped into the role.”

Wilson is guaranteed $5 million of his $7 million base salary in 2023 and the Dolphins would incur a dead cap charge of $6 million by cutting him. A trade would net Miami $7 million in cap relief with only $1 million in dead cap. Grier said he is “trying to do right by him because of how he’s handled himself on and off the field.”

Said Wilson: “I’m not sure what they talk about, the agent and the [front office]. But for me, I just told them, like, ‘Let me know whatever goes on after the fact. I’m at work, so don’t bother with it every day.’

In a turn of events, Wilson could establish himself as the Dolphins’ best option for a No. 3 receiver.

“Whatever opportunity presents itself, I’m going to take full advantage of it,” he said. “That’s the mindset I’ve always carried as long as I’ve been in the league.”