Dolphins decision to sign Albert Wilson is paying off in spades
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins were not very popular in the off-season when they opted for Albert Wilson over Jarvis Landry. It was a good move.
On Sunday Albert Wilson continued to impress the media and the fan base while allowing fans to forget about that other receiver that left for the Cleveland Browns. Wilson’s two touchdowns were impressive but it’s not the first time this season he has made that kind of impact.
After four years in Kansas City Albert Wilson is becoming a featured wide-receiver. His career with the Chiefs netted him 124 receptions and 1,544 yards and seven touchdowns. His longest was 63. He eclipsed that on Sunday. Wilson’s 75 yard catch and run wasn’t a downfield deep throw but instead a crossing pattern that Wilson took to the end zone and it came at a point in the game where a playmaker needs to make plays. He didn’t disappoint.
In six games with the Dolphins Wilson has 23 receptions and 359 yards. His best season came in 2017 when recorded 554 yards on 42 targets and scored three times. He has already eclipsed his career best in touchdowns with four already this season and he has a passing touchdown as well.
Adam Gase wanted a player who was dynamic and was more than simple speed. He has two such players now with Jakeem Grant seeing a lot more work as well. In pre-season, Gase said that Wilson wasn’t a slot receiver and through six weeks he is showing that he has the ability to be a wide-out.
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2018 is shaping up to be a big year for the speedy receiver as he is on pace to shatter his career records which in reality were modest with the Chiefs. Still the Dolphins were heavily criticized for the bigger contract that they handed out to Wilson despite that modest career in Kansas City.
According to SpotRac.com Wilson’s contract includes $14 million in guaranteed money over the life of the deal that runs through 2020. His 2018 base salary of $790 thousand is small. His cap hit for this season is just under $9 million. In 2019 that base increases to $6.9 million and $8 million in cap space.
No one is complaining about that contract now.
Meanwhile the man he remains compared to, Jarvis Landry is not posting the numbers that he was used to seeing in his Miami days. Landry has 31 receptions on 66 targets for 392 yards and one touchdown. He is on pace for just over 82 receptions but will likely come in around 90. Both players are putting up similar catch and yardage numbers with Landry out in front but the biggest impact is where it matter the most. Points.
Wilson has become a major feature in the Dolphins offense but it he is not the crutch that the Dolphins quarterbacks relied upon with Landry. He is a weapon that does more than move the chains. An absolute playmaker with the ability to change a game. We know this as a fact because he has done it three times this season.
More often than not the Miami Dolphins have brought in free agents with potential only to be let down while their own free agents depart and exceed their play while in Miami. Through six games the opposite is taking shape. Albert Wilson is proving his value to the team and in doing so is giving Adam Gase another stellar offensive playmaker.