Tyree Wilson's Entire Comments on Being a Raider
HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders felt like Christmas came early for the Silver and Black when Texas Tech Red Raider Tyree Wilson was available to select with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Wilson was considered one of two can't-miss players in this draft, and he is thrilled to be coming to the desert.
Shortly after he was picked, he spoke with the local beat writers, and here is a transcript of his entire conversation:
Video Call with First-Round Pick (No. 7 Overall) EDGE Tyree Wilson
Q: Did you have any inkling that the Raiders were in on you to the extent that they picked you at No. 7?
EDGE Tyree Wilson: "Just right before the pick. I had a great 30 visit there, so I was curious to see what they were going to do, and I'm excited that they picked me."
Q: Can you tell us where you are percentage-wise with your health, and do you expect to be ready by training camp?
Wilson: "Yes, I expect to be ready by training camp. It's up to the staff at the Raiders to see what percent I am. I feel great, and I'm just trying to be as best as possible on the field."
Q: I'm curious how much you watched Maxx Crosby as a pass rusher. Have you taken anything from him, and what do you think about teaming up with him?
Wilson: "Yes, I've watched Maxx [Crosby]. I've been watching him for a while. He's a great pass rusher, dominant and a disruptive player who is going to be relentless all over the field. That's what I try to have my game at, to be relentless and disruptive."
Q: You're a long-limbed guy; you've got 36-inch arms and the height-weight-speed conversion. How much does having that arm length help you when you have that pass rush that you can get to the quarterback really quickly because at the end of the day, you have that arm length?
Wilson: "It helps a lot, and just playing defense, being able to get the defender off and being able to convert. The big thing on defense is getting turnovers, so it helps you get to the quarterback quicker, get sacks and get strip sacks."
Q: There's a long lineage of great pass rushers and great players from the state of Texas, and Maxx Crosby is a guy from Texas. If you can think of one guy growing up watching from your home state that you compare your game to, who would it be?
Wilson: "I would probably say Myles Garrett. Just for me, growing up wanting to go to [Texas] A&M, and then him being disruptive. And then when I got older, I started watching Maxx Crosby's game and started taking bits and pieces from a lot of different pass rushers."
Q: I'm just wondering, just in general, what would you say are your biggest strengths, and what areas would you like to work on the hardest?
Wilson: "I would say my biggest strength is being versatile, being able to play wherever they need me to play. And there are other things that I need work on, like locking out all the time and playing with pad leverage and just being more technically sound. Coming from college and going to the NFL, that's the biggest thing that you have to work on."
Q: You're often compared to Chandler Jones. Is that someone you're looking forward to teaming up with now and learning from and growing under?
Wilson: "Yes, I'm excited to be able to join the team and learn from guys like him and Maxx to help me take my game to another level and help the team get to a Super Bowl."
Q: You lifted the commissioner off his feet. Did you know when you were walking across the stage, you were planning to do that? Or is that just how excited you were at the moment?
Wilson: "You know, it was a lot of excitement but I also made a commitment last week that I was going to lift him up and I was like: 'It's your time, I've got to lift you up,' and I did it. But it was that excitement and commitment."
Q: I'd like to ask you about your work ethic. One thing that a lot of teams liked is watching practice film of you. You work in practice like you played in the game. Can you talk about that work ethic, please?
Wilson: "I just feel like you know that's who I am, somebody who is working hard. I feel like if you don't practice hard, you don't play hard. Coming to the Silver and Black, that's what they're big -- practice like you play and being dominant and relentless."
Q: I was just wondering what your overall impression was when you did come out to Las Vegas for your 30 visits of Las Vegas the facility. Did you meet with any player that had an impression on you?
Wilson: "First, it was different than a lot of visits. It felt like everybody in the building cared. I mean, the facilities were the best in the NFL. I had a lot of great relationships, like it felt like I'd been there for a while, but I was only there for a day. When I was eating breakfast, Maxx [Crosby] came through and I chopped it up with him a little bit. I'm excited to be his teammate and get to learn and work with him."
Q: Maybe not the most football-related question, but you come in with the roses on the on jacket with the chains all dripped out. Can you tell us a little bit about your motivation, your inspiration behind the draft-day suit?
Wilson: "I put in a lot of work to get to this point. You only get this opportunity once, so I wanted to have a good suit that my family will remember and that I'll remember."
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