Dallas Cowboys set to lose key wide receiver to free agency

When quarterback Dak Prescott takes the field for the Dallas Cowboys next season, there will be a few nice wide receivers lining up across the field. While Michael Gallup recently signed a contract extension, Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns.

On Monday, another key contributor was reportedly on his way out in Cedrick Wilson. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Wilson is set to sign with the Miami Dolphins and play for new head coach Mike McDaniel. He will line up alongside second-year wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and catch passes from Tua Tagovailoa.

Miami will be going all in on the offensive side of the ball now, especially with McDaniel at the helm. After spending the No. 5 overall pick on Tagovailoa, getting the quarterback help was always going to be one of the offseason’s biggest priorities. Signing Wilson does exactly that for the Dolphins.

Wilson was a sixth-round pick for the Cowboys back in 2019, coming out of Boise State. He emerged as the team’s third wide receiver with Gallup injured most of the season and will be a key loss for Dallas. Having a career year in 2021, Wilson caught 45 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns.

As for Dallas, they will have Gallup and CeeDee Lamb as their two main receivers heading to the 2022 NFL draft. Noah Brown recently signed a one-year contract extension as well but he only has 39 career receptions for 425 yards and zero touchdowns. To give Prescott reinforcements, a wide receiver will surely have to be drafted with one of the Cowboys’ top picks.

NFL insider reveals reason Dallas Cowboys traded Amari Cooper

If you think that the Dallas Cowboys trade of wide receiver Amari Cooper was about the money, you’re only half right. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, while the money may have played a part in the trade, it is the development of other receivers on the roster that helped facilitate the move.

“Well, there was the money here; $20 million for Amari Cooper and the Cowboys were able to get out from under the money because it was not guaranteed this year,” said Rapoport. “Obviously, the Cleveland Browns are going to pay it otherwise they would not have done. This trade, I think, for the Dallas Cowboys, it was really more about the future. They see CeeDee Lamb as their future number one receiver.”

Lamb’s production in his first two years with the Dallas Cowboys has been impressive and consistent. In 2020, Lamb had 74 catches for 935 yards and five touchdowns. He followed that up in his sophomore season with 79 catches for 1102 yards and six touchdowns.