Could Albert Wilson be a hidden gem for Miami this year?

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins receiver Albert Wilson has the potential to be one of the biggest hidden gems this upcoming season. Wilson has flown under the radar despite his impressive ability to capitalize in the short yardage game. Wilson has been showing flashes of promise throughout training camp, reminding many fans of what he is capable of doing when healthy.

Wilson elected to opt-out of the 2020 season, citing worries of his family’s health amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Before that in 2019, he had an underwhelming season after returning from a hip injury, recording 43 catches for 351 yards.

However, back in 2018, Wilson was in the conversation for one of the most productive yards-after-the-catch receivers in all of the NFL. Wilson played in seven games before suffering a devastating hip injury. Through those seven games, Wilson recorded 391 yards receiving.  Of those, 345 yards came after the catch. In total, 88% of Wilson’s yards came after the catch that season.

Despite playing less than half a season, Wilson’s 345 YAC was only three yards fewer than DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins finished second in total receiving yards that season.

His 45 yards-after-the-catch per game was the most in the NFL among receivers.

In Week 6, Wilson put on an absolute show, leading the Dolphins to an improbable victory against the Chicago Bears. Wilson would finish with 155 yards, 138 of which were after the catch.

It is important to note that 2018 was in the Adam Gase system, one that had previously benefitted Jarvis Landry with a heavy dose of bubble screens and short passes.

This home-run ability that Wilson offers could prove to be valuable to second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is still adjusting to the professional level.

Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Tagovailoa had an average completion distance of 5.3 yards in 2020, which was in the bottom quarter of starting quarterbacks. Both him and former-Dolphin Ryan Fitzpatrick were in the bottom-10 in time to throw last season, meaning they released the ball quicker than most quarterbacks. In all, the passes the Dolphins quarterbacks were completing were both short and quick.

Whether that was because the Dolphins had an offensive line consisting of three rookies, or because of the general lack of receivers with downfield ability, it’s undeniable that having a dynamic player that could make defenders miss around the line of scrimmage would be massive plus for the 2021 Dolphins offense.

So while much of the attention from networks is given to rookie Jaylen Waddle and the newly acquired Will Fuller V, both of whom are receivers who possess a much-needed speed element that could provide a spark, it’s possible that the spark the Dolphins were missing in 2020 was on the team all along.