Cowboys 2018 draft: Why the Cowboys drafted Cedrick Wilson in the sixth round

The competition at wide receiver continues.

With their sixth-round compensatory pick and the 208th overall pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected of Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson. It may come as a surprise to fans to see the team take another wide receiver, but the Cowboys are clearly trying to stack the position and create as much competition as they can. Things are super crowded right now and there clearly isn’t enough room for everyone as the Cowboys now have the following players at wide receiver:

1. Michael Gallup
2. Allen Hurns
3. Terrance Williams
4. Cole Beasley
5. Tavon Austin
6. Deonte Thompson
7. Ryan Switzer
8. Noah Brown
9. Cedric Wilson

They appear to be taking this competition thing seriously. Dave Helman said “it’s like the movie Glengarry Glen Ross where Alec Baldwin tells everyone ‘first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody wanna see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is, you’re fired.”

Not only do they have nine receivers, but three of them now are return threats with Austin and Wilson added to the team. Wilson has averaged 23.9 yards per kick return at Boise State. Wilson has good size and plays tough. He’s not afraid to go over the middle into traffic and demonstrated the ability to play through injury in 2016. It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, but Wilson is another strong route-runner, but he also has the ability to find that next gear and take off in the open field. He’s also very Calvin Ridley-like in that he likes to lull you to sleep with one route intention, only to throttle down and leave you in the dust.

He’s got big play potential as over a quarter of his catches went for 25 yards or more.

At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, he has good size and has demonstrated he’s a receiver that can go up and catch the ball in traffic.

Wilson is also a “Garrett guy” as he is regarded as a true professional by his coaches and was team captain. He’s had to work for everything he’s gotten and is the type of person that doesn’t take things for granted. That’s right up Garrett’s alley.

Our own Cole Patterson provided a nice scouting report on Wilson a couple months ago:

Cedrick Wilson could be an intriguing and ideal day three selection for the Dallas Cowboys. He has the frame, the history of production, and the overall talent to grow into a quality NFL receiver in the right scheme. He would give the Cowboys a big-bodied deep threat to open up the run game for Ezekiel Elliott and other elements for the offense. With the questions surrounding Dez Bryant, the uncertainty with Terrance Williams, and with Cole Beasleyentering the final season of his contract, grabbing a solid target like Wilson — PFF’s third-highest graded receiver in the 2018 NFL Draft class -- in the middle of the draft would be ideal for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys have acquired some good route-running specialists Allen Hurns, Michael Gallup, and now Wilson, but now they got themselves a deep threat.

What do you think of this pick?