The Las Vegas Raiders will see a former player who they once thought could be a fodunation piece Sunday when they visit the New Orleans Saints.
The Raiders traded defensive end Tyree Wilson to the Saints on Day Three of the 2026 draft. The Raiders sent Wilson and a seventh-round pick to the Saints for the No. 150 pick when they took Arizona safety Dalton Johnson. So, the Saints measured Wilson’s trade value essentially as a mid fifth-round pick. The Saints took Iowa cornebarck TJ Hall with the No. 219
pick frim the Raiders in the trade. Hall is on the Saints’ practice squad.
Wilson was the No. 7 overall pick just three years ago. In the end, he went down as yet another recent Raiders’ failed first-round draft pick.
Wilson, who will be a free agent next year because his fifth-year option wasn’t exercised, never became anything more than a rotational player and he didn’t consistently make plays in his three seasons in Las Vegas. He has played in 50 games with just 7 starts in three NFL seasons. He has 12 career sacks with 4.5 in 2024 being his career high.
So far, Wilson’s time in New Orleans has been similar to his time in Las Vegas.
He didn’t play on defense in Week 2 for the Saints after playing 30 percent of the snaps in Week 1. He did play 10 special teams snaps in Week 2. So, the Raiders may not see Wilson much Sunday.
The Raiders aren’t getting much out of the trade either yet. Johnson has been a healthy scratch in both games. But he may have a chance to be active Sunday if fellow safety Treydan Stukes missing the game. He is currently in the concussion protocol.
