There was a decent amount of hype around Tyree Wilson near the end of this year’s training camp, and it was starting to feel like the Raiders might be on the verge of getting a legitimate return on their 2023 first-round pick.
“In the last couple weeks… something has clicked for Wilson,” The Athletic’s Tashan Reed wrote three weeks ago. “He’s playing with much more confidence, has been getting off the ball faster and has learned to use his unique combination of length and power to steamroll opposing blockers.”
Reed wasn’t alone in his assessment of Wilson, and it sounded at the time like the coaching staff was gaining confidence in him, too. Wilson posted a sack in week 1 against the Patriots, and he figured to be in line for a significant role against the Chargers on Monday.
But the coaching staff apparently didn’t see it that way.
In Monday’s 20-9 loss to the Chargers, Wilson played just 14 defensive snaps – mostly in pass rushing situations.
On those 14 snaps, Wilson played eight snaps on the outside and six snaps on the defensive interior. He wasn’t credited with any quarterback pressures but did record a batted ball.
On a related note, Wilson wasn’t the only notable name on the defensive line to get limited role on Monday. Malcolm Koonce, who is in a contract year and looking for a big bounce back in 2025, only played 26 defensive snaps in the game.
Koonce ended up playing 44 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps on Monday. Wilson was at 24 percent.
x: @raidersbeat
Koonce needs to be in only on pass rush situations. He doesn’t have the explosion back. Terrible prove it deal for the team. Chaisson would’ve been half the cost and not coming off major surgery. Also better comp pick. Now I would’ve thought with having Pete our defense would be similar to his best years. I see T.Wilson as similar body to M.Bennett from LOB days. Since Tyree is just now getting his explosion from his major surgery his last year in college. That just proves what a terrible pick he was over J.Carter.
It’s been 3 years of hype for Tyree, and 3 years of excuses. Guys, maybe he’s just not very good. Even his sack in Week 1 was more of a clean up sack than him straight up beating the offensive lineman. They’ve hyped him outside, they’ve hyped him inside, and he’s routinely been outplayed by later round picks and UDFAs.
At a certain point, I think we’ll have to accept he’s probably not more than a depth piece. The Raiders will almost certainly decline his 5th year option and then have to decide if the 4th year salary for a former #7 overall pick can’t be better used elsewhere.
100%
agreed
Tyree doesn’t have it, nor does the current Brain Trust. Must be a conspiracy I am concluding at this point .
20 years or more of head scratching drafts by several different front offices. I mean picks so bad it’s beyond belief. Over and over again. 2025 same. The rest of the game is fixed, why not the draft? This conspiracy is just connect the dots.
What’s in it for Raiders to be perennial losers ?
I do not know.
It’s not a conspiracy, it’s just bad ownership, basically stretching back to the last 10 years of Al, to pretty much all of Mark’s tenure. Al had an excuse. He was an older man who had so much success, he couldn’t fathom the need to change.
Mark is just another failson, nepotism baby born into a position he’s not qualified for. The only reliable thing this country produces these days.