Minutes after trading away one running back, the Dolphins have acquired another. San Francisco is sending Jeff Wilson to Miami, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds that the Dolphins are sending a 2023 fifth-round pick in return (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Dolphins To Acquire LB Chubb From Broncos]
Last week, it was reported that the 26-year-old was drawing trade interest. That came as little surprise, given San Francisco’s acquisition of Christian McCaffrey to operate as their new No. 1 back. Wilson represented one of several veterans at the position who either have been (or have been rumored to be) on the move in advance of this afternoon’s deadline. Moving him will allow the 49ers to recoup a small amount of draft capital after the McCaffrey trade.
Wilson will represent a familiar face for Miami despite the cross-country move, of course. He will be reunited with Mike McDaniel, who is in his first season as the Dolphins’ head coach after working on San Francisco’s staff. Wilson had spent each of his four-and-a-half seasons in the Bay Area, making contributions as part of the team’s rotation at RB along the way. His career high in rushing yards was 600 (set in 2020), but he was enjoying another productive year in 2022 (5.1 yards per carry).
Wilson will also resume his work in a tandem with Raheem Mostert in the backfield for Miami, just as the pair did in San Francisco. The latter signed a one-year deal this March in following McDaniel to the Sunshine State. Wilson, too, has been operating on a one-year pact in 2022. He and Mostert are in line to lead the Dolphins’ backfield for the remainder of the season, after Chase Edmonds was included in the package sent to the Broncos for pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
To say the Dolphins’ plan of teaming Jaylen Waddle with Tyreek Hill has worked so far would be a dramatic understatement. The wide receiver tandem has proven to be arguably the league’s best, with Hill and Waddle ranking first and fourth league-wide in yards, respectively. The ground game has been much different, however. Miami sits 28th in the NFL with an average of only 88 rushing yards per game.
That figure demonstrates the team’s inability to substantially improve on last year’s struggles in the run game, something which played a key role in their offensive inconsistency. With Wilson in place now, how much of a step forward the team takes in at least complimenting the pass game (and what is now a much-improved defense) will be worth watching down the stretch.
Edmonds is not a former niners RB
Came here to say just that. Great minds!
Unless they traded Mostert, the dolphins did not trade a former SF rb. Edmonds played for arizona before signing with Miami
This is not a bad move
Not bad for either team, very good for Dolphins..
Same system, so he can come in and contribute right away, and as long as he is healthy, Jeff Wilson Jr. is a very productive all-around back.
SF drafts well in the 5TH.
Correct, this is like another 1st Rounder for the 49ers!! lol
Their 5th Round picks have been GOLD!!
I don’t like this deal a lot for San Francisco. It’s good for them to pick up another pick, but given the injury concerns of their top two backs, an experienced player who could step in and handle those touches would be valuable. I just don’t think that a fifth would be enough for me to give up my insurance policy if I wanted to compete this year in that scenario, but perhaps I’m too conservative.
Otherwise, yes, I could like the trade for both teams. I just think that San Francisco’s particular situation benefits from having an experienced backup.
Totally valid concern. It’s a bit of a risk but banking on two RB to stay healthy for 9+ games (reg season and hopefully playoffs) looks like a gamble they were willing to take…and to get something in return for Wilson Jr before he likely would have signed elsewhere during the offseason.
I agree with what you’re saying, for the most part. I just don’t feel confident making that gamble. They got something decent for a player that they’d not likely re-sign, but I imagine what would happen if someone ended missing time that Wilson would have covered for. We’ll see. If Mitchell and McCaffery stay healthy, the move was good.
If San Fran finds a third back for the future cheaply who can adequately fill in as Wilson did, the move is wonderful. Part of what made Wilson excel in that role is his character, which San Fran was lucky to have and will need in its next backup. That fifth should help them in other areas, and hopefully for them they can end up with a good rookie because of it. You make good points, I just personally am still a tad wary of the injury risks, especially with the 9ers signaling that they’re really going to use McCaffery heavily.