Former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Albert Wilson has reportedly agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $24 million dollar contract. Ian Rapoport first broke the news:
The #Dolphins are planning to sign former #Chiefs WR Albert Wilson to a 3-year deal worth $24M when the league year begins, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
Albert Wilson Signs With the Miami Dolphins
This won’t be seen as a “splash” signing. Wilson isn’t a high profile player, he isn’t well-known among casual football fans. That doesn’t bother him, he’s used to it. Wilson went undrafted in 2014 out of Georgia State before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Andy Reid loved his speed, sure hands, and at 200 pounds, he could take a hit.
He first appeared on the NFL’s radar in a 2010 loss at Alabama. The freshman took a kickoff 97 yards, right past Alabama coach Nick Saban, to the end zone. By the time Wilson left college, he had the longest reception, run, kickoff return, and punt return in school history.
Setting Himself Apart
Of all the free agent wide receivers this off-season, Wilson is the best-kept secret in the bunch. Perhaps it’s his 5’9″ frame that allowed him to cruise under the radar with 4.43 speed. Then again, it’s in Wilson’s nature to be very elusive. After all, the man does force a lot of missed tackles. Of the 25 missed tackles forced by Chiefs receivers in 2017, Wilson accounted for 15 of them. That’s an impressive total for a man with 42 receptions, even more so when it’s good enough for third in the league.
Wilson ranked top-five in a few key categories last season. He was second in yards after catch per target, and fourth in contested catch rate at 72.4 percent. Not bad for a short receiver. What he does better than any player at the position in the NFL is separate from defenders, something quarterbacks absolutely love. Wilson averaged 4.1 yards of separation at target in 2017, which undoubtedly contributed to his 67.7 percent catch rate.
Untapped Potential
What makes this acquisition interesting isn’t what Wilson has done, but what he’s capable of. Before last year, the Chiefs weren’t thought of as a passing team so his talents were never showcased. With a new contract and another opportunity, he has a chance to finally reach his potential. Besides the height, Wilson is everything teams look for in a pass catcher. A fast receiver who runs great routes and catches most of his targets is always a desirable asset. All he needs is the opportunity.
