GM Ryan Poles has already done a lot to help the Chicago Bears fortify what was a top-heavy defensive line. He added edge rusher Darrell Taylor and defensive tackle Chris Williams through two trades. They should deepen the Bears’ rotation, easing the burden on starters like Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter. One would think Poles feels comfortable about where things are at. There is no reason to stay aggressive. However, the GM has repeatedly said he will never pass on opportunities to improve his football team.
He also isn’t afraid to take calculated risks on former high draft picks. That is why the situation over in Las Vegas might catch his attention. Some, including ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, believe there is a possibility former 1st round pick Tyree Wilson might be available at the right price. The Raiders have a new regime in place. After his quiet rookie year, there is every possibility that they will send him elsewhere before he loses any value.
Tyree Wilson, Edge, Raiders
Financial obligation: $915,000 in 2024, $3 million in 2025, $4.2 million in 2026
Why: He looks like another over-draft from a departed Raiders regime.Wilson was a prospect rapidly rising up draft boards last April, but he showed little of what seemed to excite teams when he was on the field as a rookie. He had 3.5 sacks and eight knockdowns in a rotational role, but the Raiders were a much better defense with Malcolm Koonce on the field. Koonce’s pass rush win rate of 17.4% tripled Wilson’s (5.8%). Koonce ranked 34th among edge defenders by that metric, while Wilson ranked 112th out of 119 qualifiers.
Like Johnston, Wilson just finished a dismal rookie season for a team that fired the head coach and general manager who drafted him. And like Johnston, Wilson has significant guarantees remaining on his deal, with more than $8 million coming due over the next three seasons. That’s nothing if the Raiders still believe Wilson is going to emerge as a useful edge rusher, but if new general manager Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce think Wilson is strictly backup material, they might want to try to talk to some of those teams that were interested in pushing Wilson up into the top 10 a year ago.
For one, it’s not like his rookie season was a total disaster. After a slow start, he had two sacks and 15 pressures for the final five games. His 6’6 size, 35-inch arms, and considerable power fit the profile head coach Matt Eberflus prefers in his defensive ends. The primary issue with him coming out of college was a belief he still lacked a diverse arsenal of pass rush moves. That is something defensive coordinator Eric Washington and defensive line Travis Smith should be able to solve.
It isn’t clear what the Raiders plan to do with Wilson. They may choose to hang onto him, hoping he might turn a corner in his second season. Yet the establishment of a new regime that didn’t draft him puts the young defensive end in an awkward spot. If they prefer to give opportunities to others, Ryan Poles should look into bringing him in. The cost wouldn’t be more than a mid-round pick. His talent is worth the gamble.
