The NFL roster cycle is a cold, calculated machine. One day you’re a key free-agent signing with a multi-million dollar contract, and the next, you’re a "procedural move" on a Tuesday afternoon. That is basically the story of the cedrick wilson jr saints practice squad saga that played out over the last several months. It is a weird, frustrating look at how veteran value can evaporate in the eyes of a front office faster than a New Orleans humidity spike.
The Pay Cut That Didn't Save Him
Let’s be honest. When Cedrick Wilson Jr. signed that two-year, $5.75 million deal with the Saints back in March 2024, nobody expected him to be fighting for a practice squad spot a year later. He was supposed to be the reliable, veteran "glue guy" for Derek Carr. He even did the team a solid. In March 2025, Wilson agreed to slash his base salary from $3.4 million down to a measly $1.17 million.
You’d think that kind of loyalty buys you a roster lock, right? Wrong.
The Saints released him during the final roster cuts in August 2025. It was one of those "wink-wink" releases where everyone knew he’d land on the cedrick wilson jr saints practice squad immediately. And he did. But the stability didn't last. By mid-September, he was waived again, then brought back, then finally snatched away.
Why the Saints Let Him Walk
NFL teams love "upside," and unfortunately for Wilson, "upside" usually means younger and cheaper. While Wilson was sitting on the practice squad, the Saints coaching staff was getting more enamored with guys like Mason Tipton and Kevin Austin Jr.
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Wilson is a known quantity. He’s 30 years old. He has 8 years of tread on the tires. In 2024, he was fine for the Saints—20 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown—but he wasn't dynamic. He didn't demand the ball. When you’re a veteran wide receiver on a practice squad, you are essentially a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option.
The Miami Poaching
The real turning point for the cedrick wilson jr saints practice squad situation came on September 30, 2025. The Miami Dolphins lost Tyreek Hill to a brutal, season-ending knee injury. Mike McDaniel needed someone who already knew his complex offensive system.
Wilson had spent 2022 and 2023 in Miami. He knew the terminology. He knew the speed. The Dolphins did the only logical thing: they signed him off the Saints' practice squad and onto their active roster.
The Reality of Life on the Practice Squad
Being a veteran like Wilson on the practice squad is a psychological grind. You aren't some 22-year-old rookie trying to learn how to be a pro. You've already made $20 million in your career. You've played in the playoffs for the Cowboys and Dolphins.
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Yet, there you are, running scout team routes against starting cornerbacks on a Wednesday morning in Metairie, just hoping the phone doesn't ring with bad news. Or, in Wilson's case, hoping it rings with an offer from a team that actually has a jersey waiting for you on Sundays.
Honestly, the Saints' handling of Wilson felt like a team that was perpetually "just not that into you." They liked him enough to keep him around as insurance, but not enough to actually play him over the kids.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most fans think the practice squad is just for developmental players. That’s old-school thinking. In the modern NFL, the cedrick wilson jr saints practice squad was a strategic holding pen. By keeping a vet like Wilson there, the Saints kept a proven player without his salary fully counting against the active roster cap in the same way. It’s a loophole, basically.
Where Things Stand Now
As we move through January 2026, Wilson's stint with the Dolphins has also been underwhelming. He finished the 2025 season with only 5 catches for 44 yards in Miami. He’s headed for unrestricted free agency again this offseason.
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The Saints' wide receiver room has moved on. With Chris Olave leading the way and a host of younger, faster options filling out the depth chart, the "Cedrick Wilson Era" in New Orleans—brief and confusing as it was—is effectively over.
If you are looking for actionable insights on how this affects your fandom or fantasy outlook, keep these realities in mind:
- Veterans on the move: Never assume a veteran "signing" means a roster lock. The Saints' use of the practice squad for Wilson shows they prioritize flexibility over veteran presence.
- System Knowledge is Currency: Wilson got his shot in Miami because of his past with McDaniel, not because of his recent tape. If you’re a bubble player, your history with a coach is your biggest asset.
- Roster Churn: The Saints are currently projected to have significant cap space in 2026. Expect them to target a younger, higher-ceiling WR3 in the draft rather than bringing back a veteran like Wilson for a third time.
The door on the cedrick wilson jr saints practice squad has likely closed for good, leaving behind a classic "what if" for a Saints offense that struggled to find a consistent identity behind Olave.