Steelers throw injury concerns out of the window to select hyper-athletic LB Payton Wilson 98th overall

Easily the most athletic LB in the class, Wilson plays with a search-and-destroy kind of attitude and demeanor while on the field. Likely an early round two pick if fully healthy, multiple knee injuries and a shoulder reconstruction limited his projection, but the tape did anything but:

Strengths 

• Length
  Limbs for days. Able to make tackles away from his body and crowd throwing lanes thanks to his frame
• Range
  A true sideline to sideline to sideline player with click and close to gap run angles
• Versatility
  Plays both stacked and edge linebacker with a variety of high-level plays displaying functional technique and physical skills

Evaluation:

Wilson is an intriguing prospect thanks to his mixture of length, athleticism and versatility. His ability to play both stacked linebacker and edge pass rusher comes with a double-edged sword however, as some teams will view him as a Swiss Army knife, while others may question what his true position is but there’s no doubt that Wilson’s range, size and tenacity will intrigue teams.

A four-year starter, Wilson played weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Tony Gibson’s 3-3-5 stack scheme. After returning for a sixth year in Raleigh, he put together his most complete season in 2023 with 11.5 tackles per game (fifth best in the FBS) and cleaned up on the award circuit, taking home the Butkus (nation’s top linebacker) and Chuck Bednarik (nation’s top defensive player) awards (first in NC State history to win either honor). Against run or pass, Wilson is quick to trigger (downhill and laterally) and has some impressive GPS numbers for both his speed and the ground covered on plays. Although he is an average takeon player and can be late escaping blocks, he never shuts it down and competes with the “every play could be my last” mentality. Overall, Wilson’s medicals will be a key factor in his final grade, but he is a rangy and instinctive player who impacts the game in different ways, because of his effort and toughness. His four-down potential will separate him from most linebacker prospects. -Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Final Word

Wilson is a risky proposition given his injury history, but even if he's a one-contract player, Pittsburgh will be more than happy if he lives up to the tape and ability he flashed during his time at NC State.