Tyree Wilson has received a lot of praise from Raiders’ training camp this week, but the former first-round pick still has a lot to prove in his third NFL season.
With Christian Wilkins no longer in the mix, Wilson’s job description is expected to change a little in 2025, and it’s no secret that the coaching staff has been moving him all over the defensive line at training camp.
But what exactly will Wilson’s role be with so many new coaches in the building this year?
Flagship radio host Vince Sapienza talked on Thursday about what he has watched the coaching staff do with Wilson at practices.
“We can’t get into the nitty gritty… [but] when the twos come out in practice, Tyree Wilson is the guy that’s essentially in Maxx’s spot, and then Charles Snowden is the guy that’s kind of behind Malcolm Koonce,” Sapienza said on Raider Nation Radio’s The Morning Tailgate.
“However, when it gets into those passing downs for the defense on third down, it’s Tyree Wilson on the inside. What we have also seen, and again, [in a] very limited time in the preseason, is if Malcolm Koonce pops out with that first team defense, it’s not Charles Snowden [that is] the first one, it is Tyree Wilson,” Sapienza continued.
“So… however you want to categorize [Wilson], the fifth D-lineman, essentially if they’re running four, he’s as much of a regular as you can be without being a true quote-unquote starter, because his position is technically on the depth chart is behind Maxx, who’s never getting him off the field. But this guy has been… all over the defensive line.”
Wilson wiggled into a few trade rumors over the offseason, but it feels like the coaching staff has come away impressed with him over the last few months.
Earlier in the week, Wilson said he feels like it’s finally coming together for him at the NFL level.
“I mean, y’all watch the tape, just like I do,” Wilson said on Wednesday, via the Las Vegas Journal-Review. “I feel like I’m playing faster, way more fluid than I have been before. And it’s going to continue to get better.”
x: @raidersbeat
From what I’ve noticed so far is Koonce looks like he’s coming off a career changing injury. Not as explosive or twitchy. I see Tyree starting to regain some of his explosiveness that he lost after his major injury. ( Why again did McDA draft Wilson and his major injury over J. Carter who’s on the verge of being an elite All Pro?) Wilson kinda reminds me of M.Bennett from the Seattle LOB days. If Koonce is a starter then we will be in trouble.