Tyree Wilson 2023 NFL Draft odds: Texas Tech pass rusher new favorite over Alabama's Will Anderson to be first defensive player selected

Since the end of the 2022-23 college football season, either Georgia's Jalen Carter or Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. had been the betting favorite at Caesars Sportsbook (or any other book) to be the first defensive player chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft. While Carter fell off weeks ago due to some off-field issues, Anderson was supplanted atop the board over the weekend by Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson, priced -150 to be the first defender picked, with Anderson second at +115. 

Does that mean Wilson will go second overall to Houston? It might. There has been a bit of a shakeup there as well, with Kentucky quarterback Will Levis the -140 favorite to be the second pick regardless which team picks there, followed by now Wilson (+275) and Anderson Jr. (+400).

The 6-foot-6 Wilson is ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect in the class on the CBS Sports Big Board. Last season as a senior at Texas Tech, Wilson played in 10 games and had 61 tackles (36 solo), including 14 for a loss, and 7.0 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and eight quarterback hurries. An injury kept him out of the final two regular-season games and the Red Raiders' bowl win over Ole Miss. He had the most QB pressures (50) in the Big 12 and the highest pressure rate (20.7%).

NFL.com gives Wilson a grade of 6.77, which equates to "Year 1 starter" and gives him a draft comp of Ezekiel Ansah. Ansah was the No. 5 overall pick in 2013 out of BYU by Detroit and had a good NFL career, including two double-digit sack campaigns. 

Caesars gives Wilson an over/under draft position of 4.5, with the Under a -160 favorite – meaning he's favored to be off the board when the No. 5 pick rolls around. Indianapolis currently picks fourth, but has been widely rumored to be interested in moving up for a QB.

Seattle at No. 5 could definitely be a landing spot for Wilson. The Seahawks are favored at -200 to take a a defensive lineman or edge rusher (like Wilson or Anderson) first. That Wilson goes in the top 5 is -380; he's so heavily favored to go in one of the first five slots that he's not listed in the top 10 odds.

The highest-drafted Texas Tech players in the history of the common draft (since 1967) were receiver Michael Crabtree in 2009 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, both at No. 10 overall. 

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