Breaking Down the Cedrick Wilson "Trade" Story

The Miami Dolphins need more production from wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. if he's still on the roster in 2023

So the story about the Miami Dolphins being open to trading wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. has taken off after aggregators got whiff of a nugget in a story by a South Florida writer.

But it this really a story?

Look at all the factors involved and the story here would be if the Dolphins were NOT open to trading Wilson.

This is not meant as a slight to Wilson, who the Dolphins obviously liked a lot when they signed him to a three-year contract as an unrestricted free agent, but just a matter of facing some pretty obvious facts.

And the facts are that Wilson didn't come close to justifying the money the Dolphins paid him to pry him away from the Dallas Cowboys, and there are reasons to wonder whether he'll ever be able to do it.

The reality, if we're being honest, is that the Dolphins would love to be able to move his contract and likely would be willing to accept a very modest return in a trade.

But the idea of a Wilson trade hinges on the premise that any team would be willing to take on his contract, which calls for a $7 million salary in 2023 to go along with $1 million of prorated signing bonus (which will remain the Dolphins' responsibility no matter what).

That's a pretty hefty contract for a wide receiver coming off a season with 12 catches and no touchdowns in 15 games with an average of 15.8 offensive snaps.

There was some buzz around scouting combine time that the Cowboys missed Wilson, but sister SI Fan Nation Cowboys Country publisher Mike Fisher says Dallas didn't miss him nearly enough to pay him $7 million.

And it's frankly very difficult to envision any team, no matter how desperate at wide receiver, dishing out that kind of money for Wilson.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH WILSON IN 2022?

The 2022 Dolphins offseason was highlighted by the trade for Tyreek Hill, which was great for the team and the offense, but not so good for other players involved in the passing game.

Mike Gesicki was one of those players likely affected by the arrival of Hill, and so was Wilson.

And then to make matters worse, Wilson was outplayed in camp by wide receiver Trent Sherfield, who also was a free agent pick-up but one signed to a one-year deal for a lot less money.

With his small role on offense, Wilson ended up being used as the main punt returner, but he averaged a modest 7.5 yards on 13 returns — though he did have a 50-yard return in the playoff game at Buffalo.

Sherfield has moved on to the Buffalo Bills this offseason, so maybe it's an opportunity for Wilson to step up for the offense, but he'll now be battling for a role with newcomer Braxton Berrios and 2022 fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma, who'll be looking to make his mark after spending all but one game of his rookie season on the inactive list.

The Dolphins certainly wouldn't mind seeing Wilson becoming a big factor for the offense in 2023 and he did show good potential with Dallas in 2021 when he had 45 catches and six touchdowns.

Regardless, though, he'll be a complementary player on offense as long as Hill and Jaylen Waddle stay healthy and productive, and his price tag is a bit hefty for a No. 3 wide receiver.

Wilson has no guaranteed money past this season, so if he's going to remain with the Dolphins he'll have to produce in 2023.

But, yes, the Dolphins would be open to trading Wilson. That's not news, that's simple logic.