NEW ADDRESS | Former West Rusk standout Tyree Wilson traded to the Saints – FEATURE OF THE DAY, presented by COZY COFFEE STATION
EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re late on this — it happened over the weekend — but felt it couldn’t go without a story. Our thanks to John DeShazier, of neworleanssaints.com. This story presented by Cozy Coffee Station, THE place to go in East Texas for your favorite coffees, teas, sodas and more. Visit Cozy Coffee Station in Kilgore, at 110 Midtown Plaza, or see them in Gilmer at 755 Highway 271 North. See their vast menu online here (Cozy Coffee Station), and check them out on social media: simply Cozy Coffee Station-Kilgore and Cozy Coffee Station-Gilmer on Facebook, and on Instagram, @cozycoffeestation_Kilgore and @cozycoffeestation_Gilmer.
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By JOHN DeSHAZIER
Special to ETBlitz.com
Tyree Wilson hasn’t yet had an in-depth conversation with Chase Young, but he knows enough about Young’s NFL journey to know Young has been the best version of himself in New Orleans, and Wilson hopes to mimic that model.
Wilson was traded to the Saints on Saturday. New Orleans sent a fifth-round pick, No. 150 overall, to Las Vegas in exchange for Wilson and the Raiders’ seventh-round pick (No. 219). Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick in 2023, had 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 16 tackles for loss and 91 tackles in 50 games, with seven starts.
Tyree graduated from West Rusk High School in 2018, and went on to a huge career at Texas Tech.
Young, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year before injuries helped dampen the high expectations for three seasons. But in two seasons since joining the Saints, Young has been as disruptive as originally forecast: 15.5 sacks (a career high 10 last season), 36 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown), seven passes defensed and 69 tackles in 29 games, with 12 starts.
“I feel like we can see eye to eye,” Wilson said Monday. “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. That’d be another role model by my side, somebody that can boost my game and learn things from.
“I feel like every player’s journey in the NFL is different. I can’t speak for (Young); I haven’t really gotten to sit down and pick his brain or what happened in his situation and he doesn’t know what happened in mine. But what we do have in common is him being a high-round defensive end, a high pick and he came here and he’s made the best of his opportunity. That’s what I expect to do with mine.”
Wilson, who has 24 quarterback hits, said he didn’t need a change of scenery, but wanted one.
“I love Vegas and love the people and love the opportunities in Vegas, but I feel like I wasn’t off to the best start and pretty much it was a change of coaches every year,” he said.
The Raiders had a different head coach in each of his three seasons.
Wilson (6’6″, 275 pounds) met with Saints coaches Monday and they explained the vision for his use. “They value edge players, they have plans to get me going and get my best ball going ahead of me,” he said.
Mainly, though, the fact that the Saints sought him in a trade impressed Wilson.
“It’s always a blessing when you get to come to a place where you’re wanted and they’re happy about you, happy that you’re in the building and get excited to get my career going in the right trajectory,” he said.
“I see myself as a game-wrecker. There’s 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 is used to success.
As a senior for the West Rusk Raiders, the big man had 126 tackles, 38 for loss, forced and recovered five fumbles, and was named the defensive most valuable player in District 9-3A, Division II, as well as a spot on the second-team Associated Press all-state team.
After a forgettable season at Texas A&M as a redshirt freshman (12 tackles, three for loss, and a sack), he relocated, transferring to Texas Tech.
He had a good career in Lubbock – as a Red Raider – with seven sacks, 38 tackles and 13 ½ for loss as a junior before foregoing his senior season. He was picked seventh overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the most famous Raiders of all.
In three seasons with the Raiders, Wilson has 91 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pass break-up.
Wilson said the label of being a high draft pick can be heavy, but he’s prepared to live up to it.
“It’s a blessing to be a high first-round pick, but you’re always going to have the label,” he said. “They look at you as the franchise guy. From the outside looking in, the fans want you ready immediately. But it always doesn’t work out that way. Everybody’s timetable in the NFL is different. But I’m glad I’m here, I’m glad for the fresh start and I’m ready to dominate on the field.
“I feel like my game has taken a big leap from the first few years and it’s continually going up. Stats don’t make everything, but a lot of people look at stats. I’m here to play great defense and be a great teammate, and the rest of the stuff will follow.”
(ETBlitz.com editor / publisher Mitch Lucas contributed to this story)
