The New Orleans Saints have acquired defensive end Tyree Wilson from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade executed during the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft. In exchange for the former first-round edge rusher, the Saints sent a 2026 fifth-round selection, the 150th overall pick, to Las Vegas. Alongside Wilson, New Orleans also received a 2026 seventh-round pick, the 219th overall selection, from the Raiders.
Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis officially announced the completion of the trade on Saturday. The transaction provides New Orleans with an established defensive contributor after the organization dedicated the early rounds of this year’s draft to bolstering its offensive personnel. Conversely, the move allows the Raiders to acquire an additional middle-round draft asset as they continue to reshape their roster.
Wilson originally entered the league as a highly touted prospect. The Raiders selected him with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. During his three seasons with the Las Vegas franchise, the Henderson, Texas, native served primarily as a rotational pass rusher. He appeared in 50 games for the Raiders, making seven total starts. Over that three-year span, Wilson recorded 91 combined tackles, 12 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles.
His most recent campaign demonstrated an upward trajectory in his statistical production. In 2025, Wilson played in all 17 regular-season games and logged three starts. He established career highs in several defensive categories, finishing the season with 35 total tackles, four sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Durability has been a hallmark of his early professional career, as the defensive end has missed only one game since entering the NFL.
Before entering the professional ranks, Wilson established himself as a dominant force at the collegiate level. His college career spanned five seasons, beginning at Texas A&M from 2018 to 2019 before he transferred to Texas Tech, where he played from 2020 through 2022. Across his collegiate tenure, Wilson appeared in 44 games and earned 28 starts. He accumulated 121 total tackles, 17 sacks, and 32 tackles for loss. During his final season with the Red Raiders in 2022, Wilson started all 10 games he played in and produced a career-high 61 tackles, seven sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. His performance that season earned him first-team All-American recognition, solidifying his status as a premier edge rusher entering his draft class.
Upon his arrival in New Orleans, Wilson will integrate into a Saints defensive front that already includes defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, who was also selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Because the Saints focused their initial draft capital on offensive positions between the first and fourth rounds, acquiring Wilson addresses a defensive need without requiring the expenditure of a premium draft choice.
For the Raiders, parting ways with Wilson marks the departure of a recent top-10 draft selection. However, the organization managed to secure a fifth-round asset in return, offering additional flexibility on the final day of the draft. Las Vegas used the 2026 draft to retool multiple areas of their roster, and adding the 150th overall pick provided another opportunity to bring in young talent.
Wilson now prepares to transition from the AFC West to the NFC South. As he enters his fourth professional season, the pass rusher will look to establish a permanent starting role within the Saints’ defensive scheme.
This video provides televised context and commentary surrounding the Raiders’ decision to trade their former first-round pick.
