Martez

Wilson

Wilson was claimed off waivers from the Saints in October. Wilson has been active three times in Oakland, but had yet to make an appearance on the stat-sheet. The No. 72 pick of the 2011 draft is running out of chances.

Wilson was waived by the Saints on Tuesday. The No. 72 overall pick in the 2011 draft has five career sacks in limited duty through his first 33 career games. It’s worth the gamble for the Raiders. Wilson (6-foot-4, 252) can play outside ‘backer or defensive end in a 4-3 defense. He’ll also contribute on special teams. The Raiders waived DT Christo Bilukidi in a corresponding move.

The No. 72 pick in last year’s draft, Wilson saw limited action as a rookie. Newcomer Chris Chamberlain will work on the weak side and a potential Jonathan Vilma suspension would keep Curtis Lofton in the middle. Wilson will compete with Will Herring and possibly Scott Shanle for starter’s snaps on the strong side. It’s the 23-year-old’s job to lose.

The 2011 third-round pick could be headed for a hybrid role in an effort to get Wilson on the field. He worked as the Saints’ second-team right defensive end in Thursday’s OTA practice, with Greg Romeus at left end. RE Will Smith and LE Cam Jordan are the starters. Wilson played 130 defensive snaps as a rookie.

At 250 pounds, Wilson is a little light to defend the run in Spagnuolo’s 4-3. But he can rush the passer and should be strong when asked to drop into coverage. Wilson, who isn’t even guaranteed regular playing time, certainly doesn’t lack for confidence while making the change. “I see myself being a Hall of Famer one day,” he said.

After showing significant pass-rush potential in a part-time role with the Cowboys over the last four seasons, Butler went shopping for playing time in free agency. He landed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Saints and was expected to start at SAM linebacker in Rob Ryan’s 3-4 scheme. He would have been a sleeper for double-digit sacks. Now Butler is looking at a season on injured reserve, leaving Martez Wilson as the next man up. The injury happened during a collision with Mark Ingram during what was supposed to be a non-contact practice.

Will Smith and Junior Galette are competing on the weak side. The strong side is less sack- and production-friendly, as it lines up over the tight end and drops into coverage more. Butler is the favorite because of his Dallas ties to Ryan, but Wilson could earn a situational pass-rush role in nickel packages.

Wilson, a linebacker at Illinois, flashed with three sacks as a nickel pass rusher in 2012 and at 6-foot-4, 252, is built like a 3-4 outside linebacker. Galette, who goes 6-foot-2, 258, racked up five sacks in a rotational role. It’s conceivable that Galette and Wilson could open the 2013 season as New Orleans’ bookend outside rushers with Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks on the ends.

“The 3-4 is what I ran in college and it’s something similar to we ran with coach Gregg Williams,” Jordan said. “It’s a blitzing, attacking system. ... Without a doubt [Junior Galette and Martez Wilson] will be the most excited about the situation.” Jordan recorded eight sacks in 2012, his second season out of Cal. Galette and Wilson will compete for the outside-rush linebacker spots.

Wilson supposedly got in a full week of practice, but we can only assume his absence is related to the elbow injury that held him out for the entire preseason. It further dilutes New Orleans’ already wafer-thin front seven. The Saints have just Parys Haralson and Junior Galette at outside linebacker for Week 1.