The Las Vegas Raiders were very active with trades during the draft, but perhaps the most notable one was sending defensive end Tyree Wilson to the New Orleans Saints. The former top-10 draft pick never lived up to the hype, but he was only three years in.
Regardless, he’s gone now, which means that the No. 9 jersey he previously wore was up for grabs. New wide receiver Jalen Nailor was quick to take the number for himself.
Nailor was previously planning to wear No. 83 with the Raiders. It’s unclear why he was eager to take No. 9. He wore No. 8 in college and No. 83/No. 1 with the Minnesota Vikings. In high school, he wore No. 3.
It could be as simple as he just liked No. 9 more than the other available options. No. 1 was already taken by Tre Tucker, so that wasn’t even available to him. Regardless, Wilson is officially gone from the Raiders, and his number has already been replaced. It’s hard not to look at him like anything other than a major draft bust for Las Vegas.
Wilson Wanted Change of Scenery
When the Raiders drafted Wilson in 2023, they knew he was going to be a project. He was big, strong, lengthy and athletic, but he still needed to work on his game.
Unfortunately, being big and strong isn’t enough to be a consistent NFL pass rusher. His game never really took it to the next level in his first three seasons.
While he appreciated his time with the Raiders, he thinks a change of scenery is best.
“I wouldn’t say need, but I wanted a change of scenery,” Wilson said after getting traded. “I love Vegas and love the people, love the opportunities in Vegas. But I feel like I wasn’t off to the best start and, pretty much, there’s always a change in coaches every year. And I feel like here in New Orleans, the trend is going upward.”
Wilson Hoping to Finally Become Impact Player
If the Raiders thought Wilson had a chance to develop into a good starting pass rusher, they wouldn’t have traded him for a fifth-round pick. It’s now up to Wilson to prove to the Raiders that they made a mistake.
He still believes in his potential.
“Coming to the NFL, you really don’t know how it’s going to be,” Wilson said. “But I had great role models around me (in Las Vegas). I had a great support staff there, great defensive line coach, great defensive coordinator that tried to bring me along the way. I made steps in the right direction, and now it’s time to make that big leap into a dominant pass rusher in the NFL.”
With the Saints, Wilson won’t have to carry the burden of being a top 10 pick anymore. New Orleans had a minimal investment in him, so there isn’t a huge amount of pressure to live up to expectations. The Saints declined his fifth-year option, so they aren’t totally convinced he’s about to have a breakout season. This is the year for him to prove that he deserves to get paid in free agency.
Raiders Player Quickly Takes Tyree Wilson’s Old Number After Trade