Full Breakdown
Saints Acquire Former Top-10 Pick Tyree Wilson from Raiders
4/26/2026, 12:45:17 AM
Trade Summary
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints completed a draft-day trade. New Orleans received defensive end Tyree Wilson and the Raiders’ seventh-round pick (219th overall). In exchange, Las Vegas obtained the Saints’ fifth-round selection (150th overall). Both clubs announced the move in a joint statement. The trade was executed during the third day of the NFL Draft.
Wilson’s Draft History and Raiders Tenure
Tyree Wilson was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, selected by the Raiders out of Texas Tech after earning first-team All-American honors. Over three seasons he appeared in 50 games (seven starts), recording 12 career sacks, 24 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. In 2025 he logged four sacks, 35 tackles and a 41 % snap share. The Raiders later added edge rusher Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce and third-round pick Keyron Crawford, leaving Wilson as a depth-line player.
Critical Assessment of the Deal
Analysts called the trade a low-risk “flier” for New Orleans, noting Wilson’s production fell short of typical top-10 expectations. The Raiders framed the move as recouping draft capital after missing on prospects such as Bijan Robinson and Jalen Carter in 2023. Critics point out the Raiders received only a fifth-round pick for a former No. 7 selection who never secured a regular starting role, while the Saints addressed a pass-rusher need unmet by their first five draft choices.
Conflicting Data Points
Sources differ on Wilson’s recent sack totals. One report lists four sacks in 2025; another cites 4.5 sacks in 2024 and 3.5 in 2023. Quarterback-hit counts also vary, ranging from six in 2025 to ten in 2024, with a career total of 24 reported elsewhere. These discrepancies stem from differing statistical aggregators, leaving his exact production ambiguous.
Impact on Saints and Raiders
Wilson joins a Saints defensive line that already features Vernon Broughton, Chase Young, Carl Granderson and rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller, giving the team a potential boost in pass rush after failing to draft a specialist in its first five selections. The Raiders used the 150th pick to select safety Dalton Johnson from Arizona, reuniting him with fellow Arizona alum Treydan Stukes. Johnson posted four interceptions and seven pass break-ups in his final college season, providing a developmental safety option for a roster with limited depth at the position.
Outlook and Next Steps
The Saints must decide by May 1 whether to exercise Wilson’s fifth-year option, a $4.1 million guarantee for 2026. If declined, Wilson will become a free agent after the 2026 season. The Raiders will evaluate Dalton Johnson’s progress in training camp while addressing safety depth through existing contracts with Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao. Both teams view the exchange as aligning roster construction with their near-term competitive timelines.
