Dolphins WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.: ‘I want to be here’ despite trade speculation
MIAMI GARDENS — Cedrick Wilson Jr. was bound to be one of the valued free-agent pickups of the Miami Dolphins’ 2022 offseason when he was acquired that March.
One problem for the 6-foot-2 wide receiver who was coming off a 600-yard, six-touchdown season with the Dallas Cowboys: The Dolphins traded for elite wideout Tyreek Hill about a week later.
What followed, after Wilson came to Miami as the potential No. 2 receiver behind Jaylen Waddle, was 12 receptions on 18 targets for 136 yards. His offensive snap count dipped from 528 in Dallas in 2021 to less than half of that — 237 with the Dolphins last year as Trent Sherfield, who recently signed with the Buffalo Bills, surpassed him on the depth chart.
That’s not much production one season into the three-year, $22 million deal he signed. Naturally, after Miami has since signed receivers Braxton Berrios and Robbie Chosen this offseason, Wilson has been the subject of trade speculation.
For Wilson, the lack of play or production hasn’t deterred his desire to play in Miami.
“I want to be here,” Wilson said this week at Dolphins organized team activities. “I’m here right now. I’m going to give it my best.”
The last time Dolphins brass had an update on Wilson, it seemed like Miami wasn’t actively dangling him to other teams, but the Dolphins were at least fielding calls.
“We’ve had teams call and ask about him,” general manager Chris Grier said in a pre-draft press conference. “We’re not shopping him, but teams have called. And especially when we just added Chosen, we’ve had a couple of teams reach out. He’s a really good guy and I’m trying to do right by him because of how he’s handled himself on and off the field.”
Part of what Wilson did last season to incorporate himself into the team, despite diminished opportunities, was volunteer to return punts for a roster that needed someone to do it if Hill wasn’t going to get trotted out for punt returns.
“I feel like I wasn’t being used on offense, so, punt return, I feel like nobody was there to do it, and that’s the only way I could help at the time,” Wilson said.
The same professionalism Grier appreciated last fall has been exhibited by Wilson this offseason.
“I work out every offseason to perform when the game comes,” he said. “Whatever opportunity presents itself, I’m going to take full advantage of it. That’s the mindset I’ve always carried as long as I’ve been in the league.
“I’m not sure what they talk about, the agent and [Dolphins front office], but for me, I just told them, ‘Let me know whatever goes on after the fact. I’m at work, so don’t bother me with it every day.’”
Wilson said he’s gaining greater comfort in a second year in coach Mike McDaniel’s offense. If he remains in Miami for the regular season, he feels he can still produce if called upon.
“When stats not there, it just feels like you didn’t play football,” he said. “If I played, then the numbers are going to match.”
Punt return opportunities may diminish for him in 2023, though, as Berrios is a specialist in that realm.
Slimmed-down Davis in new defense
Dolphins nose tackle Raekwon Davis looked slim at OTAs after losing weight in the offseason.
“I feel good,” said the defensive lineman entering a contract year in his fourth NFL season. “I still got to bring it down a little bit more. I’m not at my goal weight this year, but I’m getting there.”
Davis is listed at 6-foot-7, 335 pounds on the Dolphins roster. He would not reveal what his goal is for the season.
The run-stuffing former second-round draft pick out of Alabama has 101 tackles in three NFL seasons, with 1 1/2 sacks. He has playedabout half the team’s defensive snaps in his first three years in Miami.
One of the benefits of carrying around less weight is Davis feels “more conditioned up.” He has even been seen with more pass-rushing proficiency during OTAs.
“That’s my new thing,” he said.
Davis’ role in the Dolphins defense under new coordinator Vic Fangio shouldn’t alter too much.
“New system, a couple of things changing up,” Davis said. “Just a little different here and there, but my job is kind of similar.”
The Dolphins wrapped up voluntary OTAs this week and will go into a three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday through Thursday, which will conclude their offseason workout program before training camp in late July.