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The Raiders have a lot of new pieces going into the 2023 season. They’ve made a switch at quarterback, traded away their Pro Bowl tight end, and added one of the top slot receivers in the league. But none of that is going to matter if the defense can’t get any stops.
In a recent article by ESPN, Mike Clay Jr. and Seth Walder ranked all 32 rosters heading into the 2023 season. They named every team’s strengths, weaknesses, and biggest X-factor going into the year.
Rookie DE Tyree Wilson was the biggest X-factor for the Raiders as the team needs him to be productive right away. Here is what the site had to say about the No. 7 pick from Texas Tech:
Edge Tyree Wilson. The Raiders offense will score. The question is: Can the defense stop anyone? On paper, it’s hard to see how it will. But the quickest path to success probably runs through Wilson. If he can burst into the NFL with immediate production, he and Crosby would make a tough duo for opposing quarterbacks.
Wilson might not be a Week 1 starter for the Raiders, but he is going to play a lot. And if he plays well right away, the Raiders have a chance to be pretty good on the defensive line.
If not, it’s hard to expect the defense to be much better this season after failing to add much talent during the offseason. Needless to say, a lot is riding on the shoulders of Wilson going into his rookie year.
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