The Las Vegas Raiders had high hopes for edge-rusher Tyree Wilson when they drafted him seventh overall out of Texas Tech back in 2023.
But three years into his NFL career, Wilson has yet to live up to those expectations.
So when the Raiders, who are in Year 1 of their rebuild under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, saw a chance to unload him to another team and recoup some draft capital in return, they took it.
On Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft on Saturday, the Raiders traded Wilson and the 219th pick in the seventh round to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the 150th overall pick in the fifth round.
With that extra fifth-rounder, Vegas selected Arizona safety Dalton Johnson. The Raiders have another fifth-rounder later in the day — 175th overall — plus the 185th overall pick in Round 6.
In three years in Vegas, Wilson totaled 96 pressures, 70 hurries, 91 tackles, 13 QB hits, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, according to Pro Football Focus. He never became the Micah Parsons/Nick Bosa edge-rusher Las Vegas hoped he’d be when they drafted him.
Fortunately for New Orleans, Wilson is just 25 years old and still has plenty of time to turn things around. He should help boost a defense that tied for the 10th-most sacks in the NFL last season (45).
The Saints pass-rush now features two former top-10 picks in Wilson and Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, plus Carl Granderson (25.5 sacks over last four seasons) and an improved interior defensive line that added Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller in the second round of the 2026 draft.
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