If Pete Carroll can’t get best out of Tyree Wilson, then no one can

Las Vegas Raiders head coach is a hands-on type and gives third-year defensive end a quality teacher

The first step in solving any problem is to define said issue clearly.

Tyree Wilson, the Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, readily recognizes the underlying problem that he faces as an underproductive top 10 draft pick.

“Man, going back looking at my previous two years, first year, foot injury. I got in, took a lot time away from ball and it just went fast. It was a blur. Last year, I started started to grow, started to feel the game starting to slow down a little bit,” Wilson explained after the Raiders’ mandatory minicamp a week ago. “But the twitch and the reaction, it wasn’t there all the way. It started to develop after the bye. Now I’m just coming in and it started in OTAs and transitions to camp and then into the season.”

You don’t need to be a football afficionado or junkie to discern Wilson’s reaction time issues. The naked eye could see how tardy he was in terms of both anticipation and action at the snap when compared to other Raiders on the defensive line.

The 25-year-old Texas Tech product has always looked the part standing 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds. That’s elite size and his 35 5/8-inch arms give him an ungodly wingspan too boot. However, like the old saying goes “looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane” has been the tale of Wilson’s career thus far.

As our Matt Holder explored earlier this week, Wilson is looking to ‘shut everyone up’ in Year 3. With a storied and vastly experienced defensive-minded head coach Pete Carroll now leading the Raiders, Wilson gets a hands-on type that’s a quality teacher.

“Man, this is the biggest year,” Wilson said during his media session after the Raiders’ mandatory minicamp session last week. “I feel like it’s no pressure, it’s just feel like I got my feet under me. My teammates are counting on me and the team’s counting on me. So, yeah, that’s a big year.”

But let’s put it plainly: If Carroll can’t get the most out of Wilson, then no one can.

Of course, Carroll won’t be alone in this. Raiders Defensive line boss (and defensive run game coordinator) Rob Leonard plays a huge part. As does defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. But it’s Carroll who is setting the tone for the Silver & Black. And seeing the 73-year-old exhibit uncanny energy (he even pinned offensive lineman Thayer Munford Jr. before a team session), there’s little to no excuse for players to show signs of fatigue or being gassed.

Carroll’s exuberance is breathing new life in Las Vegas, however.

“Yeah, you reading me right. It starts from the top. Pete comes in here with a great mindset, great attitude and he pours it into the team,” Wilson noted. “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.”

In that same vein, Wilson appears to be pouring himself into the Raiders heading into critical Year 3.

Long billed as a raw but powerful prospect, Wilson’s initial season was dampened by his recovery from a collegiate foot injury. His second season in 2024 saw him unable to claim the starting job outright opposite Maxx Crosby — even with the team losing edge rusher Malcolm Koonce to a season-ending knee injury. Wilson was a rotational type that shuttled in and out with K’Lavon Chaisson and Charles Snowden.

Wilson logged 525 snaps in 2024 compiling 27 total tackles with 4.5 sacks. Chaisson (who signed with the New England Patriots this offseason) earned 508 snaps and finished with 32 total tackles and five sacks. Snowden, meanwhile, netted 406 snaps and tallied 39 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. With Chaisson gone and Koonce back in the mix, Wilson is needs an impressive offseason to once again carve out a role.

Despite not having eye-popping statistics in his first two season in the NFL, there was incremental improvement from Wilson from 2023 to 2024.

His sack totals from his rookie year to sophomore campaign went from 3.5 to 4.5. And according to Pro Football Reference, Wilson showed an uptick in tackles for loss (six in 2024 to just two in 2023), quarterback hits (10 compared to eight), pressures (17 from 11), and hurries (seven from three).

But, as Wilson readily admits, more is expected out of a No. 7 overall selection. He explained that each prospect has a different timeline and circumstances can dictate a lot. But he’s nose to the grindstone this offseason with eyes on making an impact for the Carroll-led Raiders.

“So I feel like everybody has a different timeline and my timeline is different. I feel like this year is the year that you got to go out there and show and shut everybody up,” Wilson said. “Not that, that matters. What matters is the teammates and whoever’s around me.”

Defensive tackle Adam Butler, who inked a three-year, $16.5 million contract this offseason, took Wilson under his wing and noted the defensive end is working on becoming an all-around edge defender rather than the one-dimensional rusher he’s been since joining the Raiders.

“Man, first off, being consistent running to the ball. 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, but then just being versatile,” Wilson expanded. “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 had in my bag.”

An eclectic toolkit where Wilson can exhibit hand-fighting, counter moves, and efficient lateral quickness while maintaining the explosive natural power he has would be quite advantageous for the Raiders defensive line.

Koonce, who signed a one-year, $11 million deal (with $10.2 million guaranteed), is back and at full health and the 6-foot-3 and 250-pound 27-year-old brings a quality rush toolbox in his arsenal. He can convert speed to power despite being smaller than both Wilson and Maxx Crosby (6-foot-5, 255). A third-round pick in the 2021 draft, Koonce exploded for eight sacks and 43 tackles in 2023. While the Raiders eye a return to form from Koonce, Wilson can carve his niche showcasing an improved overall skillset.

And that continues in earnest mid-July when Las Vegas reconvenes for all-important training camp. That’ll be when the pads come on and we get to see the the demarcation line between contenders and pretenders.

“I’m pleased with his work ethic, too. 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 being intentional about his work as well,” Butler said of Wilson. “So, I hope everything works out for him. As long as he keeps working, I believe he’ll surprise you.”