3 Things NFL Teams Need to Know About Tyree Wilson

Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson is like a battering ram law enforcement uses to break down doors.

He looked like a man amongst boys on the football field – – when he wanted to.

I found myself saying, “wow,” more than a few times watching him on game film, and while I am not a fan of prospects who pick and choose when they play, I do respect his God-given difference-making ability.

Wilson is a brute who reminds me of Cleveland’s Myles Garrett.

With that said, everyone needs to know outside of the vibe and dominant power, that’s where the comparison ends.

That’s because again, Wilson is like a battering ram and he’s as flexible as one too.

Wilson bull rushes with destructive authority and he blows up the pocket through the inside gaps off the edge like a cannon ball, but outside of that, there’s three things everyone needs to be aware of.

1. Wilson lacks pass rush moves

For a total of six games evaluated, Wilson has shown an unimaginative pass rush.

He used a head fake once in these three games (embedded below), but thats’s it.

Wilson isn’t going to make a living in the NFL winning the edge (back door) of the pocket against offensive tackles.

Why do I say that?

Because he couldn’t do it at the college level.

2. Wilson is as stiff as cardboard

His lack of bend in his movements consistently showed up on this three-game study and the previous three-game study in the article, “Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson is a First Round Defensive Tackle.“

On the few reps when he actually managed to get around offensive tackles, he was driven past the quarterback’s backside, and he showed he could not make quick adjustments back into the pocket.

3. Wilson lacks motor

My notes are filled with plays were he was going through the motions just in these three games.

Wilson is a methodical, lumbering strong force of nature who picks and chooses his spots. He flashes a great close and occasionally, he will chase down a screen pass play like he means it.

Heck, he even drops into coverages in short area zones he’s so darn athletic. Once, I even saw him cover the slot, that’s how ridiculously athletic he is.

There were just so many pass-and-run plays where he put it on cruise control.

What’s the bottom line?

Wilson is what he is, and as long as everyone knows this, and knows what to expect, everything is good.

Wilson has the same kind of alpha-male personality as Garrett or the Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux. Expect it. That’s who he is. When he turns it on, he will dominate the National Football League, but it will be at his pace here and there.

The top-10 value board at First Round Mock is reserved for the 10 prospects who show the most difference-making “Hall of Fame” upside.

Wilson falls outside of that range.

With all of this said, I really like Wilson, and I would take him over Alabama’s edge Will Anderson in a heartbeat.

Wilson makes Anderson look like he came out of a gumball machine.

#19 Tyree Wilson 6-foot-6, 275 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust Probability: Low

Projected by 65.0% (up from 19.3% on October 15) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of February 1, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Texas, Kansas State, and TCU (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 37 tackles (25 solo, 12 assists), 1 pass defended, 7.0 sacks (37 pressures pff.com)

2022 stats: 61 tackles (36 solo, 25 assists), 0 pass defended, 7.0 sacks (50 pressures nfldraftbuzz.com)

Note: Could be the perfect pick at No. 14 for New England in that Trey Flowers hybrid position

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Lanky powerful brute defender with long arms, above average straight-line speed, but gave a sporadic effort. Capable, but inconsistent blowing up inside gaps or putting offensive linemen on skates. Erratic hand usage. Showed good close once the target was locked in. Hung out to dry on the edge and stalemated inside countless times. Inconsistent against the run, but occasionally came off blocks or was left unblocked and came down inside to make a crushing stop inside.

Final words

Anyone who keeps reminding me of Garrett and Thibodeaux is bound to have a good NFL career.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.