Tyree Wilson’ announced resignation at age of 24 today leaving team… Raiders

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Defensive end Tyree Wilson is at Raiders organized team activities this week doing something he couldn’t do a year ago.

Practice.

A foot injury in his final season at Texas Tech forced Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, to sit out until well into training camp. That forced him to play catch-up last season.

Barring another injury, that shouldn’t be a problem this year, giving Wilson a fresh start this week.

“It’s a big difference,” Wilson said. “You can come in not thinking about the injury you got. You can just focus on ball and your technique so you can get better every time you come on the field.”

The lack of a full offseason regimen was noticeable when Wilson began last season slowly. Wilson had seven sacks in each of his final two seasons with the Red Raiders, but didn’t have one in Las Vegas until Week 7 against the Chicago Bears.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham moved Wilson inside during the season, going with Malcolm Koonce to join Maxx Crosby on the edge. Wilson began to show glimpses of why the Raiders made him such a high pick when he had two sacks in his final four games while coming off the bench.

“Me bumping inside really just slowed down the thinking and helped with my eyes and my hands,” Wilson said. “You really don’t have much time to think. It’s on you quick, so all you can do is react. And then when you work on the inside and then move back outside, everything slows back down.”

Graham said he likes to move young pass rushers inside because it helps get them more comfortable competing at the NFL level.

How Wilson will be used this upcoming season remains to be seen, and OTAs are a key part of Graham and his staff figuring that out. Wilson might have to again find playing time as a backup.

Crosby and Koonce combined for 22 1/2 sacks last season, so Wilson likely will have a difficult time breaking into the starting lineup at end. Crosby has long been an elite pass rusher, and Koonce answered a zero-sack season the year before with eight in 2023.

The inside is pretty well spoken for as well. The Raiders pulled off one of the offseason’s top free-agent signings by landing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins from Miami, and he could be teamed with John Jenkins — who started all 17 gam

Crosby and Koonce combined for 22 1/2 sacks last season, so Wilson likely will have a difficult time breaking into the starting lineup at end. Crosby has long been an elite pass rusher, and Koonce answered a zero-sack season the year before with eight in 2023.

 

The inside is pretty well spoken for as well. The Raiders pulled off one of the offseason’s top free-agent signings by landing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins from Miami, and he could be teamed with John Jenkins — who started all 17 gam

“Me bumping inside really just slowed down the thinking and helped with my eyes and my hands,” Wilson said. “You really don’t have much time to think. It’s on you quick, so all you can do is react. And then when you work on the inside and then move back outside, everything slows back down.”

Graham said he likes to move young pass rushers inside because it helps get them more comfortable competing at the NFL level.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham moved Wilson inside during the season, going with Malcolm Koonce to join Maxx Crosby on the edge. Wilson began to show glimpses of why the Raiders made him such a high pick when he had two sacks in his final four games while coming off the bench.