DE Tyree Wilson hopes to bring ‘game-wrecker’ talent to New Orleans

By Ross Jackson

In addition to the eight selections made by the New Orleans Saints in the 2026 NFL Draft, the team also landed a first-round talent in defensive end Tyree Wilson via a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. For the cost of a fifth-round pick, the Saints were able to bring one the 2023 NFL Draft’s top players to the Big Easy along with an additional seventh-round selection in 2026, which was used to draft Iowa cornerback TJ Hall.

WIlson met with New Orleans media for the first time on Monday via Zoom and shared a little bit about how he feels he fits into the Saints’ defense, the opportunity ahead of him and teaming back up with fellow former Texas Tech player, quarterback Tyler Shough.

“I see myself as a game-wrecker,” Wilson said. “There’ve a lot of great defensive ends in the room. I feel like I can get with them and learn some things with them and bring some value into the room. And be a dominant defensive end for the Saints.”

Wilson finished his three years with the Las Vegas Raiders with 12 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss. The largest share of snaps he played with the Raiders was 50% in 2024. He could be in line for a larger share in New Orleans, giving him an opportunity to showcase more of his talent, especially as a pass rusher.

Opportunity appears to be at the top of WIlson’s mind as well. He goes from a Raiders team that had a different head coach each of his three seasons to an organization that’s locked in on head coach Kellen Moore thanks to the promise the club displayed with him at the helm in 2025. 

“I love Vegas, and love the people and love the opportunities in Vegas,” he said. “But I feel (it) like wasn’t off to the best start and pretty much is always a change of coaches every year. And I feel like here in New Orleans, the trend is going upwards. I’m grateful to be here, grateful for the opportunity.”

The former Texas Tech Red Raiders defender was the No. 7 overall selection in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With high expectations, things can be challenging to achieve with an ever-changing landscape on a team stuck in a rebuilding stasis. Things appear to be on their way up for the Raiders now, but with another head coaching change this offseason, Wilson appears to have found a more than decent alternative to continue his NFL career. 

An alternative that will reunite him with Shough, his former teammate with the Red Raiders. 

“Me and Tyler, we both transferred to Texas Tech and I feel like we both left that place better than when we found it,” Wilson said. “To be able to team up with him, he’s a dawg. He’s a smart football player, always going to come in here and work hard. And I feel like that’s the same thing with me. So I feel like that’s why we get along with each other, and I’m ready to be his teammate again.”

Wilson will get that chance as the offseason programs get under way. He’ll also join an edge rusher room led by a player that saw a similar path to the one he’s taking. Defensive end Chase Young was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 draft by the Washington Commanders. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers during his third year and then signed with the Saints the following season. 

Since arriving in New Orleans, Young has found a fit that he cherishes both on and off of the football field. 

“I want to be a Saint forever,” Young said after the Saints’ 2025 season finale. “I feel like I have definitely have found my home. You feel the love from this organization. My first year in Washington, I never seen the owner. It was different. I never seen our (general manager) for real. I come here and they’re on-field at practice. Talking about this, talking about that. This is a real family-oriented vibe. I’m definitely happy where I am.”

The Saints’ organization and Wilson are likely hoping together that they’ll find similar success with this relationship as the team and Young found in theirs.

“I think it’s a great thing,” Wilson said about playing alongside Young. “I feel like we can see eye to eye. He knows what it’s like being a top pick in the NFL. He knows the ups, he knows the downs. And he came here, he’s been doing great. So that’d be another role model by my side and somebody that can boost my game and [I can] learn things from.”