The Saints Have a Serious Need at Wide Receiver
Report: By signing veteran wideout to a two-year contract, the New Orleans Saints start to address a major need.
Cedrick Wilson, a veteran wide receiver and former Miami Dolphin, has allegedly agreed to a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints had a severe shortage at wide receiver entering the 2024 NFL free agency period with just three players on the roster. Bringing only the three wideouts—Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry—to training camp left plenty of room to fill up for a squad that usually brings almost or more than a dozen wideouts. Finally, on Thursday night, the Saints took the field against the bunch.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. (11), a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, takes the field against the New York Jets.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. (11), a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, takes the field against the New York Jets.
Dec. 17, 2023, Miami Gardens, Florida, USA: At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (11) takes the field against the New York Jets. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Sam Navarro
Veteran wide receiver Cedrick Wilson and the Saints have reached a two-year agreement, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The sixth-year wideout was mentioned by Bob Rose of Saints News Network as a potential free agent. The Dallas Cowboys selected the former Boise State Bronco in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
In his third season, Wilson made a big impression and signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins. Wilson had 45 catches for 602 receiving yards and 6 touchdown catches in his 2021 campaign. He spent 500 of his 589 offensive snaps (damage total) lined up in the slot. Nevertheless, the momentum he was gaining could not be maintained after he arrived at the Dolphins.
There wasn’t much to go around in 2022 with wide outs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle earning over 280 targets each. Despite trade speculations prior to that year’s NFL draft, Wilson was allowed to return to Miami last season after hauling in just 12 receptions. However, he and the Dolphins split ways after two years of his three-year contract.
He now secures his next stop in the Big Easy on a contract that is both short-term and multi-year. Wilson was expected to perform a lot of run blocking while in Miami, which is something the Saints will most likely want of the position in their new scheme. it is comparable to their most current one.
Speaking of, one of the things that attracted New Orleans to Wilson was undoubtedly Wilson’s background in Miami’s wide zone scheme, which was developed by current Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, a former assistant for the San Francisco 49ers.
Wilson had 263 run blocking snaps compared to 320 passing play snaps in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus’s graphic. The most run blocking snaps he had ever been asked to perform in his career, along with a nearly equal distribution of his duties. If similar chances arise in New Orleans, it would be realistic to expect something like that.
The Saints are by no means done at the position, even with the signing. In New Orleans, Wilson will only be the team’s fourth wide receiver. It is realistic to expect further changes will be made with the abundance of talent available on the veteran market, including Hunter Renfrow, a former colleague of Derek Carr, and the excellent draft class.