When you become a top-10 selection in the annual NFL Draft, expectations are sky-high; Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Tyree Wilson learned that the hard way.
For Tyree Wilson, Year 3 presents an unfamiliar situation–one where the 25-year-old experiences healthiness throughout the offseason, therefore being able to refine his game prior to being thrown into regular season action.
A situation where he’s able to build up momentum heading into Week 1, instead of being forced to hit the ground running as he did during both his rookie and sophomore campaigns.
It’s a new beginning for the seventh-overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Even Wilson’s teammates have noticed the undeniable differences in development during Las Vegas’ offseason program. Adam Butler, a three-year Raiders veteran who’s been in Sin City since Wilson’s first day in the National Football League, made note of it himself.
“He’s been trying some new things. I won’t go into detail on that, but he’s been trying some new things and really been intentional about his work as well,” Butler said during the Raiders’ latest press conference on Wednesday.
“I hope everything works out for him. As long as he keeps working, I believe he’ll surprise you.”
Wilson gave some clarity on the ‘new things’ statement soon after.
“First off, being consistent, running to the ball,” Wilson replied to a question referencing Butler’s comments.
“You know, I’m trying to get my cardio up to be able to be on the field longer. To be around the ball, to make more plays. And then, just being versatile.
“Last year you saw me outside, inside, and just really try to make my game more efficient inside. Working more edge moves, counter moves, and not just be a power guy, which I always have in my bag.”
Finally; a healthy offseason for Tyree Wilson
Teammates aside, even the present media noticed a visible difference between today’s Tyree Wilson and the Wilson of years passed. Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated in particular pointed out the unmistakable footwork differences displayed by the Texas Tech alum.
“Feet work, just everything,” Wilson expanded on when it came to his development.
“Core, feet work, just having a lower center of gravity. I missed a lot of plays, sacks, tackles, and I’m always falling on the ground. So that was a big focus in the offseason.”
So why has it taken until Year 3 for the former top-10 pick to undergo such development? That answer is simple: health.
It may sound like nothing more than an excuse to fans, but it’s real. If you aren’t ready to practice, you aren’t ready to get better. And if you aren’t ready to get better, well.. that one explains itself.
Unfortunately for Wilson, he hadn’t been able to practice during the offseason prior to this year.
But all that matters is he’s able to do so now. Wilson is taking full advantage of that.
“This is the biggest year,” Wilson explained while noting the importance of Year 3.
“Not just.. I feel like there ain’t no pressure. It’s just, I feel like I got my feet under me. My teammates are counting on me and the team’s counting on me. So yeah, this is a big year.”
It’s a situation simply incomparable to his previous two campaigns.
“Going back, looking at my previous two years.. First year, foot injury. I got here and.. I took a lot of time away from ball and it just went fast. It was a blur. Last year, I started to grow, started to feel the game starting to slow down a little bit, but the twitch and the reaction, it wasn’t there all the way.
“It started to develop after the bye, and now I’m just coming in and starting in OTAs and transition to camp, and then into the season.”
A new year, a new Las Vegas Raiders
It’s more than just being healthy for Tyree Wilson. A new Raiders regime is fueling the fire under, not only Wilson, but the entirety of Sin City’s roster.
“It starts from the top,” the Raiders edge rusher noted. “Pete comes in here with a great, great mindset. Great attitude, and he pours it into the team.
“And all the coaches want to be here. All the coaches want to have fun, and it just makes it fun for all the players.”
But Rome wasn’t built in a day–Wilson knows that better than most through his own career experience thus far.
“You know, I’m not just looking at the season. You gotta take baby steps.
“First I gotta finish off minicamp, then go back in. The next six weeks are big; you can lose a lot or you can gain a lot. So, go back, train, develop some more, and then come into camp and create that bond, and be polished up going into the season to just take it week by week.”
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the face of the Raiders organization, Maxx Crosby, has played a large role in the development of Wilson up to this point.
The third-year Raider made that clear.
“You know what they say, iron sharpens iron. He’s always going to critique me; he’s been in the game long. He’s been successful. So I always ask him, ‘Hey,’ he’ll be like, ‘Oh, you could do this better,’ so I go back and do the rep better ’til he tells me, ‘Good job.’ And it’s just, every day, trying to build and try to idolize what he has established at the Raiders.”
Heading into Year 3, Wilson is finally ready to take the next step in his pro-career. More than that, he’s already begun taking those steps.
Time will tell if those steps lead to the doorway of on-field success.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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