May is a time of optimism for every NFL team and the Raiders have been no exception over the last several weeks.
Outside of the uncertainty around Christian Wilkins’ foot, reports from practice have painted an optimistic picture around the Raiders in the team’s first year under head coach Pete Carroll.
Ashton Jeanty and the rookie wide receivers seem to be off to a good start to their NFL careers and listening to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, it sounds like former first-round pick Tyree Wilson has taken steps in a good direction, too.
“Last year, I talked with Tyree in the locker room about there was a couple sacks he had missed because his eyes weren’t in the right spot, or he didn’t have his body broke down. [Defensive line coach] Robbie [Leonard] told me there were actually eight sacks he should have had,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“But last year was really his rookie year. And [Leonard] told me that the game has really slowed down right now for Tyree. [It has] slowed down for him and he’s got a lot of confidence and that’s good news if you’re a Raider fan,” Carpenter continued. “He’s healthy. It’s slowed down and he’s playing within himself. He left eight sacks on the field last year. I think he had a good year last year. If you looked at it like a rookie season, imagine how good you would have thought if [he had] eight more sacks.”
Wilson was drafted by the Raiders with the no. 7 pick in the 2023 draft and he was the only first round pick of the Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels era.
Wilson was considered a particularly raw prospect coming out of Texas Tech, and he also dealt with a significant foot injury over the course of his first NFL season.
While Wilson’s development has been slow, he remains one of the most physically gifted players in the league. His size and strength aren’t matched by many defensive linemen in the NFL, but the learning curve has been a patient process for Wilson.
If Wilson’s career ever does reach its potential, there aren’t many players in professional sports with a higher ceiling.
x: @raidersbeat
What is this guy talking about?
He wasn’t a rookie last year.
He’s an absolute bust of a pick.
He’s garbage.
He just doesn’t get it.
What kind of edge player doesn’t understand how important get off and placement is?
One of the worst picks the Raiders ever made.
I agree. This crap is why I can’t stand Hondo. He now hypes up almost sacks. Hondo can make all the excuses he wants with another rookie year but Tyree’s college film showed he had no get off.
Patriot West made the absolute worst picks in this franchise history, then throw in Davante trade, they were horrible and I couldn’t stand Reggie.
Wilson will have a better year. He will improve because of his efforts and experience and the rebirth of the team due to the effort and new people with the knowledge and experience it takes operate a professional NFL team. Something the RAIDERS have been lacking for 20+ years. This will improve the team and it’s players as well as a more content fan base.
IDK what a lot of these clowns are complaining about. Wilson played well, last year, and the DL did good to pressure the QB when Crosby went out. Wilson is a solid player and anyone that can’t see that is just a hater and beyond help. Looking forward to watching his continued development next season.
You hit the nail on the head brother
Yeah, Bust Wilson was so good they had to switch his position to see if he could be better there because he is a disaster at edge.
Terrible get off the worst I’ve ever seen. Go to youtube and watch Brian Baldinger’s breakdown of Bust.
“What is he doing?!”
Bust Wilson just doesn’t get it.
Comment is posted above ∆
Wilson will have a better year two 2 reasons. His learning curve and the new staff added this year. The latter will improve all the RAIDERS players our standing in NFL and bring happiness to our fan base. 20+ years and I can say were back. Look out AFC West.
This goes to show you how broken feet take time to heal. Tyrees roomie season was supposed to be a healing process but JMcdipshit forced him out sooner then he was ready. You need both your feet to explode off the line of scrimmage. To say that last year was his rookie season is true. Now he’s fully healed and more experienced I expect him to have a big year.
Wow! The first comments I read on here are of an ignorant, impatient, non-understanding people. Last year WAS essentially his rookie year, or at least a sort of continuation of it. His foot injury took a long time to heal (that’s not uncommon…see McFadden and many others). He also needed development coming out. That wasn’t a secret. And even with that there’s a reason why all the draft heads were so high on him. He showed improvement last year. And “almost sacks”, especially for a new player, are definitely a worthy stat. It shows where he’s at. Remember Khalil Mack’s rookie season with all those “almost sacks”? They translated to actual sacks the following years.
Come on y’all, that negative whiny attitude has got to chill.
Last year was not his rookie year please don’t lie and then call someone else ignorant
You’re the ignorant one. Almost sacks is like saying he almost made a play. It shows how bad he really is that he left so many plays out on the field.
This guy is a bust plain and simple.
Well I think Wilson will do better this year but who knows?? Everything from Jon Gruden to Josh McDaniels to Antonio Pierce is suspect until proven they can play. Also so are the players those regimes traded for just as suspect…
Strong, negative, poorly written, ignorant comments are a reflection of your bran, heart and soul.
I was a critic of the draft pick. But it’s a new day.
Don’t be a NPC if you can help it.
My apologies for my comment, overreacting on caffeine buzz. The posts were not poorly written, not ignorant, and might be right! Foolish of me.
My apologies for my comment, overreacting on caffeine buzz. The posts were not poorly written, not ignorant, and might be right! Foolish of me.
Trying to post apology here, won’t let me, thinks it’s a duplicate!