Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Every offseason, there are underdog players that find their way onto NFL rosters. Looking over the current group of New Orleans Saints players, there are some that meet the underdog criteria, looking to be the next surprise competitors to land a role in the Big Easy.
Sometimes those roles come as consistent contributors, other times as depth pieces or practice squad players, but in every case, they’re valuable opportunities for those who earn them.
A shoo-in for the roster this year, one wide receiver is often seen as being in the margins for 2025. But his reconnection with head coach Kellen Moore could get the best out of him instead.
Wide Receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Wilson landed with the Saints last year as an unrestricted free agent. The veteran wide receiver joined an otherwise young group of pass-catchers and was expected to be a veteran, big slot type of presence. However, because of injury and a wealth of 12 personnel snaps (one running back, two tight ends and just two wide receivers) those opportunities were just as often allotted to tight ends as they were to Wilson.
Wilson led all wide receivers with 106 snaps from the slot, but he was outpaced by tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau combining for 301.
Wilson finished 2024 with 20 receptions for 201 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. He also threw a touchdown to running back Alvin Kamara late in the season.
The seventh-year veteran will now look to his next opportunity in New Orleans in order to further solidify his role as a contributor, ideally from the slot where he’s shown to produce at a high level in the past.
Fighting For A Spot
The wide receiver room will be a busy one throughout training camp.
Wilson, at best, would likely be behind the team’s top trio of wideouts: Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks. But behind there is an available spot or two (or maybe even three) of which he could claim a job. Being behind those three receivers will likely limit the maximum potential for Wilson, but his opportunities would still be available to him.
The Saints have to be aware of their injury history at the position, so keeping anyone on the roster comes with an acknowledgement that they can be trusted to produce if called into action.
Wilson will battle most immediately with other returning faces like Bub Means, Mason Tipton, Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis, all of which present a unique skill set and therefore challenge. Newcomer veteran Donovan Peoples-Jones would be another name that should contend with Wilson most immediately. The Saints could also look to add more options to the position group as training camp comes and goes.
Wilson’s Resume
Wilson had his best season while working with Saints head coach Kellen Moore during the 2021 season. Both were members of the Dallas Cowboys while Moore continued his tenure as the team’s offensive coordinator. Wilson saw a role carved out for him as a big slot option that he cashed in on quite well.
That season, Wilson finished with 45 catches, 602 receiving yards and six touchdown grabs. During that season he saw a whopping 90.2% of his snaps coming from the slot, a total of 342. He led NFL wide receivers in slot percentage among all of those across the league that received at least five targets.
cedric wilson jr. caught 5/6 targets for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the cowboys’ 51-26 win over the eagles in week 18. here’s every target #finsup pic.twitter.com/jxnM9Vb743
— josh houtz (@houtz) March 15, 2022
Wilson’s highest snap percentage from that position since 2021 came last year. However, the Saints could do more for and with him there. No one knows that better than Moore.
Why Dekkers Has A Shot
The connection between Wilson and Moore could be the receiver’s best asset. Moore has seen the best of the veteran pass-catcher in his previous offense. Wilson departed from Dallas immediately following that year, taking a nice deal with the Miami Dolphins.
This is now the first time the two have been reunited, meaning that Moore could try to get the same level of reliable and consistent production from Wilson this season by running him from the slot where he’s seen the most success in his career. Moore doesn’t have a ton of familiar faces on the roster, but Wilson is one of the few. That should work to Wilson’s advantage as long as he proves he can contribute the way Moore may remember.
