During the 2023 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders made a shocking selection by selecting Tyree Wilson with the No. 7 overall pick. Las Vegas needed some help on the defensive end, but not enough to use a top-10 pick at the position group, passing up positions of need in favor of a pass rusher from Texas Tech.
Wilson struggled as a rookie, and was quickly labeled a failure by some in the fan base, but he emerged strongly in year two. In the second round, Las Vegas moved up to select Michael Mayer, who was a first-year producer again. In 2023.
The third and fourth rounds brought the additions of Byron Young, Trey Tucker, Jakorian Bennett, and Aidan O’Connell, three of whom play key roles in Las Vegas in 2024. While Young was released this summer, landing in Philadelphia, Tucker had shown flashes at WR, Bennett is a solid NFL CB, and O’Connell was named the starter two weeks ago at quarterback before suffering an injury.
However, after a sub-par rookie season for most of this draft class, this group is finally trending positively.
In Year 2, the Raiders are getting strong play from several players in the 2023 NFL Draft class, including Wilson. He shook off injury during his rookie season, combined with mediocre play, to become a force coming off the edge of the Silver and Black.
He has the size and athleticism to be a true role player for the Raiders for years to come, and it’s great to see him finally producing on Sundays.
Tucker had an impressive summer and some big moments in 2024, but he’s still an inconsistent guy at times. Bennett, on the other hand, is getting solid reviews in Year 2, and looks like a player who could stay in the Raiders secondary for a very long time.
Wilson, Tucker and Bennett have the talent to be long-term Raiders, and O’Connell will be a very useful backup in the league for years to come.
Finally, we end with a player who was solid as a rookie, but is currently not with the team for personal reasons. The hope is that Michael Mayer can return to the field for the Silver and Black, as he showed incredible potential in Year 1, and will pair perfectly with Brock Bowers at tight end moving forward.
