The Dolphins are down another wide receiver. One day after Allen Hurns opted out of the 2020 season, teammate Albert Wilson has made the same call.
[RELATED: 2020 NFL Opt Out Tracker]
“It was a very tough choice,” said Wilson in a statement (Twitter link). “I will stand by my teammates and brothers to support them 100% throughout the season and will be counting the days until I can join them again.”
Wilson joined the Dolphins on a three-year, $24MM deal in 2018. He got off to a good start with his new team, catching 26 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. Two of those touchdown grabs were from at least 70 yards out, and he even threw a 52-yard TD pass. Unfortunately, he was derailed by a serious hip injury in October of that year. He returned in 2019, but couldn’t reprise that performance – he finished out with 43 catches for just 351 yards in 13 games, averaging out to 8.2 yards per catch.
This year, Wilson agreed to drop his base salary to $3MM, plus $1MM in incentives. Now, that deal will be pushed into next year.
I really hope these players that are opting out use this year to figure out a longer term plan for themselves. Whether that lies in sports, media, education, business, et al. And understand the ‘pro sports gravy train of cash’ will dry up, how to handle w/ that.
Miami may want to inquire on the free agent market after both Wilson AND Hurns opted out. I like Parker and Williams, but they’ll need a reliable tertiary option
Interesting. Most of the other opt-outs were newly signed. Miami is harder hit than most areas, though, so that probably is relevant.
Wilson is in decline and after coming off a major knee injury didn’t regain his explosiveness last season. Was going to get beat out or a salary cap (save money) casualty.