Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. joins a familiar offensive system looking to carve out a role and put points on the board.
Wilson joins the Saints from the Miami Dolphins where he appeared in 15 games with 22 receptions for 296 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. Wilson said the Dolphins offense he played in for the last two seasons is very similar to the offense coordinator Klint Kubiak is implementing and that he is "very comfortable with it."
Wilson said Saints fans can expect to see an offense that is "going to get everyone involved."
"From the offensive side, it's going to definitely give you a lot of excitement," Wilson said on an episode of the New Orleans Saints Podcast earlier in the offseason. "And, when it's ran right and done properly, you're going to see points scored."
Wilson is a six-year veteran who's played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dolphins accumulating 101 receptions for 1,269 yards with 11 touchdowns, as well as completing five-of-five passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and has brought back 35 punts for 196 yards as a returner over 68 games. He's also played in three postseason games catching nine passed for 113 yards and returning two punts for 53 yards.
Before being drafted in the sixth round, 208th overall, by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 out of Boise State, Wilson had a rookie visit with the Saints. Signing with the team in free agency is a "full circle" moment, Wilson said.
"It feels good to know I've stayed on some people's minds for sure," the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder said. "But, just to get with the new coaches that have just came here and they've been watching my career as long with their path going on, and for all of us to meet here is definitely something special."
Wilson will look to carve out a role in a wide receiver room that is only returning wide receivers Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and A.T. Perry from the 2023 squad. Wilson said whatever his role ends up being "I'm doing the best of my ability for sure and when the ball comes my way, I'm going to catch it."
Wilson's father, Cedric Wilson Sr., was an NFL player from 2001-2007, spending time with the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wilson said he learned how to have the right work ethic from his father.
"No matter how things are going for you, just keep working, come to work," Wilson said. "Especially in the receiver position, there's only one ball to go around, so you catch five footballs in one game, that's a great game, but there's literally 70 plays. So just keep your head down. Keep working and be accountable, be honest and if you can't do it, don't lie about it, don't beat around the bush, and just show up."
Wilson lives in Texas but said he is "definitely looking to indulge in as much New Orleans lifestyle as possible while we're here."
Wilson grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and said he'll look for opportunities to involve himself in the New Orleans and Memphis communities.
"This is the closest I've been to a family, so I'm pretty sure the whole village will be down here and hopefully we can get some ties between Memphis and New Orleans going and help obviously the community that needs help because, I mean, we do what we love to do every day and just give back some small blessings that we can," Wilson said.
Wilson said he's different people on and off the field. Off the field he described himself as a calm person and enjoys video games and traveling. On the field is a different story.
"It's an aggressive sport, so you have to be the most aggressive you can," Wilson said. "I feel like some people don't naturally have that aggression. But out there it's kind of you have to flip the switch on your own and it's to dominate your opponent."
