The Lions just sent a message to their young receivers with the latest signing of a veteran receiver
The Lions add a veteran receiver whose going to push the young guys this summer
This one is kind of hard to understand. By all accounts, the Detroit Lions are as set as you can get at receiver. They have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch, Kendrick Law, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, and Dominic Lovett. That is a pretty good group. So it’s surprising to see them add a veteran receiver.
Lions sign Cedrick Wilson
The 30-year-old receiver has been around the league since being a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s played 93 regular-season games for the Dolphins (three stints), the Saints, and the Cowboys.
Outside of the 2021 season, where he had 45 receptions for 602 yards and six touchdowns, Wilson has predominantly been a depth guy who’s racking up something in the ballpark of 200 yards a season and a touchdown or two.
I wanted to get a little more information on him, so I reached out to our Dolphins beat writer, Kyle Crabbs, to see why Miami kept bringing this guy back. Here’s what he had to say:
“Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. is a quality depth player at this stage of his NFL career. He’s got a big-bodied frame but lacks explosiveness, so he’s not going to shine as a separator, but against zone coverage, he does illustrate the ability to find soft spaces. Wilson has strong hands and is a plus blocker — he should be considered a blue-collar, dirty work receiver who will likely be leaned on targets but could take 15-20 snaps a game as a rotational player and a special teams contributor. Wilson’s kind of been through the wringer since signing a big(ish) contract with the Dolphins in 2022, but he’s always been a reliable veteran in ways that don’t start at the top of the depth chart.”
The thing that’s hardest to get is that Wilson’s potential role in Detroit is the same role you expect Isaac TeSlaa and Jackson Meeks to play. Kind of that X-Receiver type role. The ceiling for Wilson is special teams, and that’s if he makes the 53-man roster. Which points to the reason he’s here. To be competitive at training camp this summer. We’ll see what happens. This is the Lions again, sending a message to the young guys that they have to compete and earn their spots. Nothing is given unless you’re St. Brown or Williams.
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