The Saints went heavy on offense early in the draft, but they had other plans to bolster the defense. New Orleans has acquired Tyree Wilson from the Raiders in a draft day deal.
The Saints were able to acquire the former No. 7 overall selection from 2023 in exchange for the No. 150 overall pick, the team’s original selection in that round. They also own the No. 172 selection in that round, which was obtained in the trade that sent Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks. New Orleans also received the No. 219 pick (7th round) from the Raiders.
“We liked him as player coming out,” Saints GM Mickey Loomis said. “You know, I think more than anything [DC Brandon Staley] has a vision for him fitting into our defense and it adds to a group that we like already, so anxious to get him here.”
Loomis said the trade was something that had been being discussed for some time, but materialized on draft day. He also noted that reports that the team was aggressively trying to trade up from No. 8 in the first round was patently false, and that he didn’t make a single call to that regard. The Saints were happy to wait for their pick, even if it meant missing out on two high end pass-rushers in David Bailey (No. 2 to the Jets) and Arvell Reese (No. 5 to the Giants). The Saints ultimately selected Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson.
“I felt like the cost was going to too high and we were going to end up with a really quality player,” Loomis said. “We just liked a lot of guys in that first group and we were going to be pretty happy with whoever we ended up and really happy with who we ended up with.”
The move adds a high-profile name at a position of need, and it’s the latest gamble on a highly drafted player that failed to meet expectations with the team that drafted him. Wilson was a standout at Texas A&M and has appeared in 50 games for the Raiders over the past three years, accumulating 91 tackles and 12 sacks. He’ll join a group that includes Chase Young, whom the Saints made a similar gamble on two years ago and Carl Granderson as the main pieces. Veteran Cam Jordan remains a free agent and the door has not been closed on a return, but the room just became a bit more crowded.
The Saints also now the 5th year option associated with first-round contracts, but Loomis indicated the team does not intend to exercise it. They have until May 1 to decide and the 1-year deal for 2027 would’ve cost north of $14 million.
“I think he’s … gonna be a free agent after this year in all likelihood. … It’s a 1-year trial and we’ll see how it goes,” Loomis said.
The Saints have already decided to exercise the 5th year option in Bryan Bresee’s contract, who was selected No. 29 in the same draft class.
The move also means that Wilson reunites with a former teammate in Tyler Shough, with the pair playing together for two seasons at Texas.
The Saints have also added a defensive piece to the picture amid a draft that has very heavily skewed to the offensive side. Here’s how the rest of the picks shaped up for the Saints in this year’s draft:
– No. 8: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
– No. 42: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
– No. 73: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
– No. 132: Jeremiah Wright, OG, Auburn
– No. 136: Bryce Lance, WR, N. Dakota State
– No. 172: Lorenzo Styles Jr., DB Ohio State
– No. 190: Barion Brown, WR, LSU
– No. 219: TJ Hall, CB, Iowa
