When the Las Vegas Raiders selected pass rusher Tyree Wilson with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they envisioned a dominant pass-rushing force to pair with superstar Maxx Crosby.
Standing at 6’6″ and 275 pounds with 35 5/8-inch arms and freakish athleticism, Wilson was profiled as a raw but high-upside prospect who can eventually wreak havoc off the edge. Fast forward to this summer, and CBS Sports listed Wilson as a potential bust:
“Four years after Clelin Ferrell joined the Raiders as the would-be face of the pass rusher, Wilson arrived as a potential corrective. Yet so far, unfortunately, he’s followed suit, mustering just eight sacks in four official starts over his first two NFL seasons. The ex-Texas Tech standout has publicly acknowledged he’s entering something of a make-or-break campaign opposite Maxx Crosby, despite improving some other marks, like quarterback hits, in his second year. New head coach Pete Carroll could be just the man to help unlock him.”
Tyree Wilson’s Crossroads: Will the Raiders’ 2023 Top Pick Deliver or Disappoint?
GettyLas Vegas Raiders 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson #9 understands the pressure is on to produce this upcoming season.
Wilson understands the pressure is on for him to perform in a crucial make it or break it season with the Raiders.
“I wouldn’t say not fair,” Wilson said. “You draft somebody high, you expect them to come out and perform right away. But I feel like every player in the NFL is different. People go through different things. Some players are more polished in college than others, and some people have to come in and develop. So I feel like everybody has a different timeline, and my timeline is different. I feel like this year is the year that you got to go out there and show and shut everybody up.”
He knows the clock is ticking, and the excuses are running out. But Wilson does have one last chance coming at the perfect time. Joining the Raiders in hopes of revitalizing the team, Carroll is known for maximizing defensive talent, especially on the edge. His success with players like Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Frank Clark in Seattle suggests there is a blueprint for Wilson’s potential, but it will require a level of urgency and consistency that he hasn’t shown yet.
Carroll’s arrival may very well be the former first-round pick’s last lifeline in Las Vegas. “I’m not just looking at the season,” Wilson explained. “You got to take baby steps…You can lose a lot or you can gain a lot.” That level of self-awareness is encouraging. Still, words will only get him so far; it’s time to produce results on the field.
This is a big offseason/training camp for Tyree Wilson
He’s gotta show this new staff something
#Raiders
Outlook on Wilson’s Make It or Break It Season
Whether or not Wilson lives up to his potential may come down to his mentality and ability to seize the opportunity in front of him. The physical tools are there. It’s why the Raiders drafted him with a top ten pick.
The hope is that a new coaching staff, a competitive defensive room, and a renewed sense of urgency finally push Wilson to deliver on the promise he once showed at Texas Tech.
If he can turn things around, the Raiders could have one of the most dangerous pass-rushing duos in the league. But if not, Wilson will join the long list of first-round defensive ends who never quite found their footing, and the Raiders will once again be searching for answers.
