Tyree Wilson’s Future with the Raiders Is on the Clock - and the Signs Aren’t Great
When the Las Vegas Raiders drafted Tyree Wilson seventh overall in 2023, the expectation was clear: this was a high-upside edge rusher with the kind of rare physical tools that could anchor a defensive front for years. But two seasons in, and with a third coaching staff now evaluating him, Wilson’s trajectory is raising more questions than answers - and the Raiders are quickly approaching a pivotal decision point.
Let’s start with the context. Wilson’s first two years in the league have unfolded under three different head coaches and general managers.
That kind of turnover is a challenge for any young player, especially one still refining his game at the pro level. Continuity matters, especially when it comes to development, and Wilson hasn’t had much of it.
Still, the hope heading into Year 3 was that a fresh start under a new regime would unlock the production to match his potential. And for a moment, it looked like that might be the case.
Flashes of Promise Early in the Season
Wilson opened the 2025 season strong. He notched a sack in Week 1 against the Patriots - a promising start for a player looking to carve out a bigger role. He followed that up with another sack in Week 4 versus the Bears, and while those numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, they came in games where he saw his highest snap shares over the first five weeks.
That’s not a coincidence. When Wilson’s on the field more, he tends to make something happen.
In Week 6 against the Titans, his snap share cleared the 50% mark. Then came a career-high 57 defensive snaps - good for a 70.4% share - in Week 7 against the Chiefs, a game where Maxx Crosby exited with an injury and Wilson was asked to step up.
At that point, it looked like the arrow was pointing up.
But the Momentum Didn’t Last
Since the Raiders’ bye week, though, Wilson’s usage has taken a clear step back. In the five games post-bye, he’s played more than 30 defensive snaps just once.
His snap share has hovered in the low 30% range in four of those five games. And the sack total?
Stuck at two for the season, with an eight-game drought heading into Week 14.
For a player drafted to be a disruptive force off the edge, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Now, let’s be clear - Wilson isn’t necessarily being phased out. But on a 2-10 team, with plenty of snaps to go around and development reps to be had, it’s telling that his role is shrinking. Whether that’s about performance, scheme fit, or something else behind the scenes, the result is the same: Wilson isn’t trending in the direction the Raiders need him to be.
Decision Time Looms: The Fifth-Year Option
Here’s where things get real. First-round picks come with a built-in four-year deal and a team option for a fifth year. That option has to be picked up after a player’s third season, and for Wilson, that deadline will hit around May 1, 2026.
At this point, it’s hard to see the Raiders exercising it.
According to Over the Cap, Wilson’s projected fifth-year salary would be $13.6 million for the 2027 season. That’s a hefty price tag for a player who hasn’t produced at a starter level, let alone lived up to top-10 pick expectations. Unless something dramatic changes, it’s almost a lock that the Raiders will decline that option.
What Comes Next?
There was some buzz around Wilson as a potential trade chip at the November deadline, and while nothing materialized, it did raise eyebrows. Could the Raiders revisit that possibility in the offseason?
Maybe. But for that to happen, Wilson would likely need to show something down the stretch - or at least intrigue another front office enough to take a flyer on his upside.
New general manager John Spytek doesn’t strike as someone who’ll hesitate if the right deal is on the table. If another team comes calling, he’ll listen.
The more likely scenario? Wilson plays out his rookie contract through 2026 and hits free agency the following spring. Unless he takes a significant leap, both in performance and consistency, that’s where this seems to be headed.
Still Time, But the Clock Is Ticking
Tyree Wilson’s story in Las Vegas isn’t over just yet. He’s still got time to flip the narrative. But three years in, the flashes have been too few, and the production too inconsistent, to justify a long-term investment.
The Raiders hoped they were getting a game-wrecker when they took Wilson seventh overall. What they’ve gotten so far is a player still trying to find his footing - and running out of runway to do it.