The Kansas City Chiefs let Albert Wilson walk in free agency and it was the right thing to do. He’s now off to Miami on a three-year deal worth $24 million.
Sure, Chiefs Kingdom loved Albert Wilson and what he did for the Kansas City Chiefs, but let’s face it… He wouldn’t have been more than a number three receiver on most other teams. This is coming from someone who earlier this offseason wanted the Chiefs to re-sign Wilson, but he’s not worth what the Miami Dolphins are now paying him.
The Chiefs pretty much showed they weren’t interested in keeping Wilson by signing Sammy Watkins to a three-year deal worth $48 million. Had they not gotten Watkins, I just don’t think a reunion was in the cards for Wilson and the Chiefs.
Don’t get me wrong. Albert Wilson meant a lot to this Chiefs team last season and when he was injured, it showed with the lack of production on Kansas City’s offense. When looking at his numbers, however, letting him walk was the right thing to do.
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
Wilson had his best season in 2017, hauling in 42 receptions for 554 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson had 147 yards receiving in the season finale against the Denver Broncos and when you subtract that from the total, he had just 407 total yards, which would be his second highest total of his career.
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The argument could certainly be made that had Wilson not played in that finale and had Patrick Mahomes and him not had the kind of chemistry they had, Wilson would be heading back to Kansas City on an affordable one-year deal. That part is kind of frustrating, but good for Wilson for getting what he could on the open market.
Sammy Watkins is easily the more talented option and the Chiefs obviously felt that way too. They dropped $48 million on him to be one of their top two weapons while the Dolphins gave Wilson $24 million to likely be a second or third string option for whoever the quarterback is there next year (Ryan Tannehill probably?).
While it would have been nice to bring Albert Wilson back simply due to the chemistry he and Mahomes had against the Broncos, it wasn’t worth $24 million for a third string receiver. Best of luck to Albert in Miami and I hope he can become their number one option over the next three years.
What do you think, Chiefs fans? Would you have wanted to give this contract to Wilson, assuming the team hadn’t signed Watkins?