Former Las Vegas Raiders edge Tyree Wilson didn’t hold back his thoughts on the instability that he experienced with the Silver and Black since being drafted by the team in 2023.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders decided it was time to cut ties with Wilson. On Day 3 of the draft, Las Vegas dealt Wilson, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fifth-round selection (No. 150), which Las Vegas later used to draft Arizona safety Dalton Johnson.
After being drafted with the No. 7 pick in 2023, Wilson had Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce, and Pete Carroll as head coaches with the Raiders. As a result, Wilson noted that he’s happy to be going to the Saints, given that he wanted a change of scenery.
“I wouldn’t say need, but I wanted a change of scenery,” Wilson told reporters on April 27. “… I love Vegas and love the people, love the opportunities in Vegas, but I feel like it wasn’t off to the best start, and pretty much there’s always a change in coaches every year; I feel like here in New Orleans, the trend is going upward, and I’m grateful to be here, grateful for the opportunity.”
Moreover, he explained that he values stability, considering what he’s experienced in Las Vegas during his first three seasons in the NFL.
“You want stability,” Wilson added. “You want people that value, you want to value people. I feel like this is a place that values me and other guys like me in the room and on the defense. I’m grateful that this opportunity came, and now it’s just time to get to work and make things happen.”
Raiders Felt It Was Ideal to Party Ways With Tyree Wilson
Last season with the Silver and Black, Wilson posted a 57.6 overall defensive grade from PFF, ranking 91st out of 115 qualified edge defenders. His pass-rush grade came in at 60.4, placing him 77th, while his run-defense grade of 48.2 ranked 106th at the position.
He finished with 35 total pressures as a pass rusher, including four sacks, 28 hurries, and three hits. Against the run, he recorded 25 solo tackles and forced one fumble over the course of the season.
Despite being the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and this production, Wilson wasn’t drafted by this new regime. As a result, Raiders VP of Player Personnel Brandon Hunt explained why it was time for both parties to part ways.
“We were going to say it was just an opportunity for a fresh start, a fresh start for him and a fresh start for us,” Hunt told reporters on April 25. “The phone was ringing throughout the entire draft, and when that call came in, we looked at where we were as a team and the decisions we had made in free agency and the draft.
“We felt it was an awesome opportunity for him and for us. We wish him all the best. We’re thankful for his contributions as a Raider, and we think he’ll do a great job in New Orleans.”
Saints Get Blunt About Tyree Wilson’s Future in New Orleans
Wilson hopes a new scenario will help him boost his production. Nonetheless, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis stated that the trade is a one-season commitment for the team.
“It’s a one-year trial , and we’ll see how it goes,” Loomis said on April 26 (h/t Pro Football Talk).
Loomis’ comments strongly suggest the Saints won’t pick up Wilson’s fifth-year option, which would lock in $14.475 million for the 2027 season. If he turns in a strong year, it could put him in line for a bigger contract, a situation New Orleans would have to sort out next offseason.
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