Dallas Cowboys: We are done ignoring Cedrick Wilson

Cedrick Wilson Jr. has been outstanding for the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. What’s his backstory, how pivotal has he been, and what can be expected of him in the future?

Who is Cedrick Wilson and what can he contribute to the Dallas Cowboys going forward?

Long before Cedrick Wilson was a play-making member of the Dallas Cowboys receiving corps, he was an unknown prospect out of high school attending Coffeyville Community College. By his sophomore year he had posted 66 receptions, 1,045 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns which was enough to grant him Junior College All-American honors as a sophomore.

His lighting up of the stat sheet caught the attention of Boise State where he transferred to for his junior year. While he had a fantastic junior year posting 1,129 yards and leading the team in touchdowns (11), his senior season is what got him NFL attention.

He had an outstanding year with 6 games of 100+ receiving yards including two games of 200+. In the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl versus Oregon, Wilson dropped a sweet 13/209/1 line on the road to a 38-28 victory which gave him MVP of the game.

Wilson was also used in the passing game at Boise where he threw 61 yard TD against Utah State. Something we sometimes see Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore pull out of his bag of tricks. While he entered into Boise State as a receiver, he was actually a quarterback out of high school where he posted a modest 731 passing yards and 7 touchdowns.

Wilson’s performance at Boise got him drafted in the 6th round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys but his career got off to an incredibly rocky start. Wilson was placed on IR after getting a torn-labrum on July 31st and a month later he was cut for Devin Smith.

Three days later he was signed to the practice squad and promoted to the active roster ten days later to replace a concussed Tavon Austin. His 2019 was quiet and he didn’t eclipse even 50 receiving yards but he was in the league and that was a start.

2020 saw Wilson stay off the IL and he played all 16 games. His week 3 performance against Seattle was his best posting a 5/107/2. Heartbreaking defeat with a blown coverage on D.K. Metcalf late in the game but I remember thinking to myself “Who’s Cedrick Wilson and where has he been this whole time?”

So how’s Cedrick Wilson’s 2021 going? A whole lot better.

With the same amount of catches as last season (17), he’s hauled in 252 yards and 3 TDs. Not only that, but he’s also throwing dimes on the run to Cee Dee Lamb in primetime.

Per the Athletics Jon Machota, OC Kellen Moore described the play as a botched one.

"“I’m not going to lie, that wasn’t the exact design of the play,” Moore said. “It turned into a scramble drill.”"

This was easily the best throw of Sunday Night, and that includes his 73 yard TD grab from Cooper Rush last night.

Yet, this is not Cedrick Wilson’s best play of the year.

That would be in the 4th Quarter against the Patriots week 6. 4th and 4, the Cowboys have just gotten the ball after allowing a 75 yard TD to Kenrick Bourne moments after a pick six from Trevon Diggs. With just over two minutes the Cowboys need to drive down the field and score at least a field goal.

After a short dump off to Amari Cooper on 3rd and 8 for four yards the Cowboys run no huddle. Dak Prescott drops back to throw, releases the ball quick and throws a beautiful high-point pass to Cedrick Wilson who makes an even greater catch. Sideline, toe drag, the Cowboys move the chains, get the first down, and the rest is history.

For a second it seems like Dak Prescott had overthrown his man but Wilson’s athletics made it so pretty, that throw and catch could have been framed. Prescott had this to say about Wilson’s grab:

"“Without that, we’re not up here talking about the win.”"

Cedrick Wilson has shown to be an exceptional deep ball threat and he has proven to be an amazing compliment when Amari Cooper and Cee Dee Lamb are receiving all the attention. He has been consistent and is yet to drop a ball all season.

The QBs passer rating when he is targeted? 134.8. He will not be the WR1 or 2 on this high-powered offense but when the defense decides to focus their attention elsewhere, that’s when Wilson is at his absolute best.

The Dallas Cowboys have had their players continue to fill in for starters all season long and Cedrick Wilson is no exception. After Gallup went down in Week 1, Wilson has come through magnificently.

We’ve seen it with this Cowboys team countless times: Cooper Rush coming in for Dak Prescott or Randy Gregory dominating in DeMarcus Lawrence‘s absence.

With all of the star studded talent on display in this offense it’s easy for players to get lost in the depth chart, Cedrick Wilson is making sure he makes a statement for this team week in and week out.

• Published on 11/04/2021 at 11:01 AM
• Last updated at 11/03/2021 at 21:48 PM