Nearly every NFL team will report to training camp this week, which means actual football is just around the corner. Each squad has a handful of players who bear watching during the practices, as their development could be the deciding factor this season.
For the Raiders, that player is none other than Tyree Wilson, the former first-round pick by the Raiders a year ago.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they named Wilson as one of the players to watch during training camp. Here is a snippet of their thoughts on the former Texas Tech star below:
After being taken with the seventh overall pick last year, Wilson put together a puzzling rookie season. He played only 493 snaps, mustering 24 pressures and missing a whopping 18.5% of his tackles.
As Maxx Crosby remains one of the most unstoppable pass-rushers in the game and Malcolm Koonce elevates his skill set, it feels like the clock is already ticking on Wilson to show legitimate growth in his second year, and that countdown starts in late July.
If Wilson can take a big step in Year 2, the Raiders will have a chance to have one of the best pass-rush units in the league. Wilson has the size and power to play inside, giving Las Vegas the option of having four stud rushers all on the field at the same time.
But Wilson really needs a strong camp to alleviate some concerns about this rookie season. With this being his first full camp, all eyes will be on the former No. 7 overall pick this week.