From the dominant Will Anderson Jr. to the uber-athletic Myles Murphy to the rising Lukas Van Ness, the quality of this defensive end NFL Draft class makes it easier than it should be to overlook one of the very best defensive ends in this draft class: Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson. Let’s dive into what makes Wilson so special.
Strengths: Wilson possesses elite height and length and is one of the strongest edge defenders I have ever scouted. He consistently uses his length and hand placement to get into the offensive lineman’s chest and control him. He then uses his power to push him back. Wilson generated handfuls of pressures per game using his length and power alone. It isn’t his only trick though, as he is a really athletic player with good upfield burst and impressive bend. Despite his height, he remarkably shows the ability to dip under the blocker’s shoulder and flatten to the quarterback. Wilson also has a couple of effective pass-rush moves in his arsenal to use to his advantage. With so many ways to win, Wilson is a really talented, impactful, and reliable pass-rusher. Wilson is elite against the run as well, showing the ability to consistently stack and shed by using his length to his advantage and good handwork to disengage. He also shows tremendous range for a defensive end, as his speed and effort in space allow him to make plays far from the trenches. Wilson is highly aware and diagnoses plays well against both the run and the pass. He also has a motor that never cools. Wilson’s elite agility, especially for his size, is on display when Texas Tech even asks him to play shallow zone coverage or to pick up a check-down option in man coverage.
Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson in 2022:
🔴 50 QB Pressures
🔴 22% Pass Rush Win RateLed all Big 12 defenders in both categories pic.twitter.com/ebQuHeeopv
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 27, 2023
Weaknesses: While Wilson’s height does him many favors, it does come with a couple of drawbacks. He struggles to consistently maintain a low pad level as a pass-rusher, standing too tall and losing leverage at times. While he is a fantastic athlete, his first-step quickness is average because it takes him longer to get out of his stance than smaller edge rushers. Wilson’s pass-rush arsenal has a solid foundation but he should look to keep refining and expanding it.
Bottom Line: Wilson is one of the best players in this draft class. His strength is nearly unparalleled, which he combines with great height, length, and athleticism to be a constant terror in opposing backfields, as well as a terrific run defender. Wilson’s height does lead to inconsistency in pad level and an average first step but these issues do not detract from his stellar play against both the run and the pass. He possesses Pro Bowl potential.
