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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

During the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders decided it was time to cut ties with their former Top 10 pick, Tyree Wilson.

The Silver and Black dealt Wilson, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fifth-round selection (No. 150), which Las Vegas later used to draft Arizona safety Dalton Johnson.

Last season with the Silver and Black, Wilson posted a 57.6 overall defensive grade from PFF, ranking 91st out of 115 qualified edge defenders. His pass-rush grade came in at 60.4, placing him 77th, while his run-defense grade of 48.2 ranked 106th at the position.

He finished with 35 total pressures as a pass rusher, including four sacks, 28 hurries, and three hits. Against the run, he recorded 25 solo tackles and forced one fumble over the course of the season.

The Saints are hoping that a fresh start helps Wilson and also helps the team replace veteran pass rusher Cam Jordan. Nonetheless, the 36-year-old doesn’t believe that in free agency, draft, or trade, New Orleans has done much to replace him.

“I don’t know,” Jordan said (h/t Matthew Paras of the New Orleans Times-Picayune). “There’s nobody who produced the way I did last year, so. My talent speaks for itself. And if things work out, phenomenal. I’ve always said I understand the business side to it, so I’ve never worried about it.”

Raiders Explain Decision to Trade Tyree Wilson

The trade of Wilson looked to be on the horizon after the Raiders decided to bolster the edge of the defensive line with the No. 74 pick in the third round by drafting former Auburn Tigers star Keyron Crawford.

Despite being the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Wilson wasn’t drafted by this new regime. As a result, Raiders VP of Player Personnel Brandon Hunt explained why it was time for both parties to part ways.

“We were going to say it was just an opportunity for a fresh start, a fresh start for him and a fresh start for us,” Hunt told reporters on April 25. “The phone was ringing throughout the entire draft, and when that call came in, we looked at where we were as a team and the decisions we had made in free agency and the draft.

“We felt it was an awesome opportunity for him and for us. We wish him all the best. We’re thankful for his contributions as a Raider, and we think he’ll do a great job in New Orleans.”

Tyree Wilson Gets Blunt Message From Saints

Wilson hopes a new scenario will help him boost his production. Nonetheless, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis stated that the trade is a one-season commitment for the team.

“It’s a one-year trial , and we’ll see how it goes,” Loomis said on April 26 (h/t Pro Football Talk).

Loomis’ comments strongly suggest the Saints won’t pick up Wilson’s fifth-year option, which would lock in $14.475 million for the 2027 season. If he turns in a strong year, it could put him in line for a bigger contract, a situation New Orleans would have to sort out next offseason.