The former Raiders first-round pick clearly hasn’t avoided the weight room

At 6-foot-6, 271 pounds, with impressive athleticism and quickness for someone of his stature, Tyree Wilson looks like a high-end passer. That’s why the Las Vegas Raiders spent him with the No. 7 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft.

However, the transition from college to the pros proved difficult for Wilson as a rookie. He wasn’t productive and earned below-average player grades from Pro Football Focus. But instead of letting it discourage him, the former Texas Tech Red Raider used it as motivation.

Photos from the annual Sack Summit suggest the edge rusher has put in some work this offseason — he’s physically imposing.

Wilson can be seen standing next to teammates defensive end John Jenkins (middle) and second-team All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby (left). Clearly, he’s been focusing on building muscle, which has paid off physically.

For context, Wilson is standing next to one of the most dominant defenders in football (Crosby), which makes him look small. He is an absolute monster of a human being. Could a breakout campaign be on the horizon?

Wilson has 29 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble (plus a recovery) with a 44% defensive response rate in 2023. The Raiders selected him to pinch Crosby and form one of the passing units -the deadliest passes in the NFL. Perhaps their vision could come to fruition this year if his new physique is any indication.

Although he appeared in all 17 games, Wilson began last season on the non-football injury list due to a broken foot. While he undoubtedly struggled, it is notable that he faced an uphill battle upon entering the league. Regardless, he was a standout at Texas Tech and was considered a tempting prospect by many. Perhaps a healthy offseason is all the Lubbock product needs to live up to the high expectations and draft pedigree.