The Raiders are still living with the fallout from the 2023 NFL Draft, and Darnell Wright’s new deal with the Bears just put the mistake back in the spotlight.
Las Vegas used the No. 7 pick on Tyree Wilson, and that choice has aged poorly enough that Wilson was already shipped out of town this offseason. The Raiders sent Wilson and a seventh-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-rounder in the 2026 NFL Draft, getting only a modest return for a player they once hoped would become the edge rusher opposite Maxx Crosby.
Instead, Wilson’s time in Las Vegas never took off. Over three seasons and 50 appearances, he produced 12.0 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. The Raiders couldn’t find the impact they needed, even though he had the same defensive line coach and defensive coordinator throughout his stay, and despite three different head coaches trying to make it work.
What makes the miss sting even more is what happened with the players drafted right behind him.
At No. 8, the Falcons took Bijan Robinson, who has already become a First-Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl back. This week, he signed a three-year, $75 million contract with $51 million guaranteed.
At No. 9, the Eagles grabbed Jalen Carter, who has built a resume that includes a Super Bowl championship, Second-Team All-Pro honors and two Pro Bowls. Before training camp, he landed a four-year deal worth up to $160 million with $106 million guaranteed, the most ever for a defensive tackle.
Then came Wright at No. 10, and his payday arrived on Tuesday: a four-year, $116 million contract with $93 million guaranteed after a Second-Team All-Pro season in 2025. Peter Skoronski, picked No. 11, had his $19 million fifth-year option picked up. Jahmyr Gibbs, taken No. 12, is expected to reset the running back market after three straight Pro Bowl seasons.
That’s the ugly part for the Raiders. The players taken immediately after Wilson are not just good - they’re cashing in like stars.
The missed opportunities go even deeper. Christian Gonzalez was still on the board later in the round, and Las Vegas had a clear need at cornerback. The Raiders also could have used help at receiver, where Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnston were all available options that could have strengthened the passing game.
Raider Nation knew at the time that Wilson was a project, and the fan base preferred Gonzalez, Wright or Carter. Robinson and Gibbs were never the obvious fits either, with Josh Jacobs coming off a rushing title in 2022.
Carter was not a realistic target for Las Vegas, though. The source of that was clear: in college, charges were brought against Carter for reckless driving and street racing, as he was involved in a car accident that resulted in the deaths of two people. That came a year after the Henry Ruggs III incident, which took Carter off the Raiders’ board.
In the end, the question of why Las Vegas passed on Wright, Gonzalez or any of the other obvious alternatives is one that only then-general manager Dave Ziegler can answer. The rest of the league, and Raiders fans, are left with the same reminder every time one of those players gets paid: this was a draft mistake that keeps getting louder.
In Other News...
Raiders First Padded Practice Exposed One Concern Fans Cant Ignore
The Raiders first padded training camp practice under new head coach Klint Kubiak brought the kind of full-speed evaluation that changes the feel of camp, and it quickly offered a clearer look at where this roster stands. With the pads on, veterans and newcomers alike had to show they could handle more than offseason optimism, and that meant a closer eye on the trenches, the passing game, and how the group responds when the intensity rises.
There were encouraging signs elsewhere on the field, including strong showings from key returning pieces and a rookie quarterback getting his share of reps as the staff works through the early stages of development. But the session also reinforced why the offensive line remains a talking point, especially on the right side, where one spot drew more scrutiny than anything else and made it hard to ignore a concern fans have been watching since camp opened. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Just Sent A Message About Where Raiders Stand
Around the AFC West, the tone this week has been familiar: coaches and front offices trying to steady the roster picture while everyone else keeps building toward camp and the season ahead. Sean Payton had little to add on Nik Bonitto beyond saying the Broncos expect him to be fine, Denver also cleared room by reworking Ben Powers deal, Jim Harbaugh is still sorting out the Chargers left guard spot with Kayode Awosika currently on top, and Andy Reid spent his update praising the Chiefs younger players while working through injuries.
For the Raiders, the most meaningful note came from Maxx Crosby, who once again made clear where his head is as the team continues to try to push itself back into relevance. In a division where the other three clubs are busy reinforcing depth, settling position battles and smoothing out contract situations, Crosbys message matters because he remains the face of what Las Vegas wants to be. The bigger question now is whether the Raiders can turn that kind of commitment into the kind of team success Crosby has been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Camp Is Turning Up Pressure On A Few Overlooked Names
Training camp has become a proving ground for a handful of Raiders who spent the offseason looking like depth pieces, not certainties. Head coach Klint Kubiak has made it clear that the standard has to come from the players themselves, and that message is showing up in the way Las Vegas is giving opportunities to receiver Benson, cornerbacks Richardson and Vance, and running back Mike Washington Jr. to work their way into bigger roles.
The encouraging part for the staff is that there have been positive developments from that group, which is exactly what a camp like this is supposed to surface. The harder part is figuring out how much of that early momentum holds once the practices get more demanding, because for all the attention those names are getting now, their real impact on the roster is still something the Raiders are waiting to see unfold. [Read more 🡒]