The Steelers added a key piece to their inside linebackers room by selecting N.C. State's Payton Wilson with the 98th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft Friday evening. The pick was a compensatory selection gained from the trade that sent Kenny Pickett to the Eagles in mid-March.
Despite an injury history that includes a torn ACL in his senior year of high school and a second knee injury sustained as a freshman at N.C. State, Wilson's tape caught Teryl Austin's eye. Wilson won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player, and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and was a unanimous All-American selection in 2023. He finished fifth in Football Bowl Subdivision with 138 total tackles, posted 17.5 for loss, intercepted three passes, and broke up six more in his final collegiate season.
"I think that just my versatility kind of speaks for itself," Wilson said via conference call with reporters Friday. "I think I'm able to play in the box as well as drop into coverage. Growing up, just watching the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, that's kind of the way that I modeled the way I play. Just hard and fast and physical and playing as tough as you can play. Just super excited to get with everyone there and continue to elevate my game."
Wilson, the brother of former Pirates pitcher Bryse Wilson, adds speed to the Steelers' inside linebackers room of Patrick Queen, Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, and Mark Robinson. Wilson ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash to pace all linebackers, and he posted well athletically with a 34.5-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-11 broad jump at the NFL Combine.
He was the sixth inside linebacker selected in this draft behind Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper (45th overall to the Packers), Michigan's Junior Colson (69th to the Chargers), Kentucky's Trevin Wallace (72nd to the Panthers), Notre Dame's Marist Liufau (87th to the Cowboys) and Missouri's Ty'Ron Hopper (91st to the Packers).
"He was a guy we had high on our board," Austin said. "Liked him as a football player. He’s very productive, fast, and really has good football instincts. All the things you kind of want in a football player. To see him where he was and have an opportunity to get him, we thought that was a good thing and we like where we are at with that."
Without the intent of endearing those who will soon be rooting for him, Wilson considered N.C. State legend, Steelers legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher one of his idols.
"An N.C. State legend, someone who lives life the right way as well as on and off the field," Wilson said of Cowher. "His name's in the Ring of Honor at N.C. State and he's one of the best coaches to ever coach in the game and one of the best linebackers to ever play. I’m super excited to wear this jersey and continue his legacy."
Among all of his accolades, the most important one with respect to his NFL potential is that he stayed healthy over the last two seasons. Wilson was an honorable-mention All-ACC selection after starting in 11 games in 2022. He posted 82 total tackles, 12.5 for loss, and 4.5 sacks in that season.
"I think when you turn on my tape, you can kind of see that I play with my hair on fire," Wilson said. "I think that's truly because of what I've been through. Just really understanding that you can't take this game for granted, because no one in the world knows when that last snap is going to be. Everything that I've gone through, I've really learned to trust my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as well as to continue to play the game like it's going to be taken away from you. I just play as hard as I possibly can and prepare as hard as I possibly can."
The Steelers signed Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract over the offseason. Wilson and Queen are both 24 years old and provide some youth and potential longevity behind the 27-year-old Holcomb, who is coming off of his own ACL injury, and the 30-year-old Roberts.
Wilson's ability to roam in coverage is something that can go hand-in-hand with Queen's ability as a blitzer.
"I think talking about how he pairs with Patrick, which is I think his ability to run and play in space, is really attractive," Austin said. "And we know what PQ can do. And so, we'll see what (Wilson) can do. If he can bring the things that he's shown on college tape to us I think it'll be a bonus for us because we'll have a guy that can also show he can blitz, but he shows that he can cover. He can do a lot of different things and I think that's always valuable when you have a guy that can do both."
Wilson was the third and final selection the Steelers made in Friday's second and third rounds of the draft. The Steelers drafted West Virginia center Zach Frazier with the 51st overall pick in the second round, and they took Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson with the 84th overall selection in the third round.
