Pros and cons of Las Vegas Raiders taking Texas Tech football's Tyree Wilson in 2023 NFL Draft
Texas Tech football defensive end Tyree Wilson was chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The Raiders, who finished 6-11 last season, selected him No. 7 overall.
Wilson is the ninth player from Texas Tech to go in the first round of the NFL Draft, but only the fourth in the past 40 years. The others on that list are linebacker Jordyn Brooks, to the Seattle Seahawks in 2020; quarterback Patrick Mahomes, to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017; and wide receiver Michael Crabtree, to the San Francisco 49ers in 2009.
Wilson signed with Texas A&M out of New London West Rusk, a Class 3A high school in East Texas. He spent two years with the Aggies before transferring to Texas Tech during the pandemic summer of 2020. He had an impressive debut game against Texas that year, then came into his own the past two seasons with 13 1/2 tackles for loss, including seven sacks, in 2021 and 14 tackles for loss, including seven more sacks, in 2022.
He was a first-team all-America honoree this past season by USA TODAY and the Football Writers Association of America, among other outlets.
Here's what Wilson brings to his new NFL team:
Texas Tech football defensive end Tyree Wilson: The positives
Wilson's combination of physical tools makes him a rare specimen. He's 6-foot-6, 275 pounds with an enormous wing span and has shown he can make plays in more than one way. He's strong enough to set an edge. He's demonstrated the power to knock offensive linemen into a quarterback's lap and the agility and hustle to chase down running backs from the back side.
He showcased all that during Texas Tech's 34-7 conquest of Mississippi State in the 2021 Liberty Bowl. He sprinted into the flat to blow up a swing pass for a running back. Later, with MSU at the Tech 20-yard line and threatening to cut into a 20-7 deficit in the third quarter, Wilson sacked FBS passing leader Will Rogers on back-to-back plays on third and fourth down. He was Tech's defensive MVP of the game.
'A great ambassador': Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson declares for NFL draft
The concerns
Wilson missed most of spring practice in 2022 with an unspecified back problem and missed the last three games of the season with a broken foot. Foot injuries for a player his size can be a worry. It should be pointed out, however, that he played in 44 games over four seasons, so his staying on the field hasn't been much of an issue.
Coming out of high school, Wilson was a consensus three-star recruit who needed to fill out his frame and add muscle. That accomplished, he made a relatively late ascent to being viewed as a high first-round talent. How will he handle the expectations that come with it?
More: Red Raiders show stuff for scouts on pro day
Final thoughts
Considering Wilson has put on 40 pounds since high school and blew up as a playmaker in 2021 and 2022, he seems to be only scratching the surface of his potential. Tim DeRuyter was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M during Von Miller's last season with the Aggies, the DC at Oregon for Kayvon Thibodeaux's last season with the Ducks and the DC at Texas Tech during Wilson's last season with the Red Raiders. Wilson's more physically imposing than the other two, but it'll be up to him and his new staff to see if he can reach his ceiling.
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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Las Vegas Raiders pick Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson in 2023 NFL Draft
