Pro Football Focus recently released a list of second-year players under the most pressure. Unsurprisingly, the countdown includes Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Tyree Wilson.
Is Tyree Wilson under added pressure?
Which player in Year 2 is under the most pressure? pic.twitter.com/UhNKz6x7B3
— PFF (@PFF) July 8, 2024
In 2024, the Raiders expect the Texas Tech product to play a significant role, but how much pressure is he really under?
Wilson’s rookie year didn’t go as planned…
As we all know, the Chandler Jones debacle forced Tyree Wilson into a full-time role sooner than anticipated. We expected Wilson’s existing foot injury from his college tenure to limit his playing time. But when plans went awry, Wilson would see major snaps on the edge and interior of the Raiders defensive line. While his overall health would be in question throughout the season, Wilson showed flashes of why he was the seventh overall pick in the draft.
With that nagging foot injury now a thing of the past, Tyree should be a much bigger force in Las Vegas. The Raiders upgraded their defensive line by signing Christian Wilkins this offseason, and it is not due to a lack of perceived talent from Wilson. Still, pair that with the emergence of fellow edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, and we should see Wilson on pass-rushing downs in the interior.
Despite Wilson’s mere 3.5 sacks in 2023, teams will now have to carefully consider their plan of attack. Second-Team All-Pro Maxx Crosby will still attract a lot of attention, which means Wilkins and Wilson can apply pressure up the middle with little resistance.
What can the Raiders still expect big things?
Realistically, Wilson was a redshirt rookie in 2023. Wilson’s rookie year, which should have focused on improving his health and spelling when necessary, transformed into a full-fledged campaign. Las Vegas now has the luxury to use Wilson as a Swiss army knife along the front four, holding the edge when Koonce needs a spell or muscling guards on pass downs. The beauty of this is that the Raiders are not truly reliant on Wilson’s production to achieve their goals as a defense or team.
Expect Wilson to be better, but he may still need more time. And that’s okay, too.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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