Each draft cycle there’s a participant — or extra — who waits slightly longer than anticipated to listen to their title known as.
One such instance from the 2024 NFL Draft is NC State linebacker Payton Wilson.
Whereas off-ball linebackers have seen their positional worth slide in recent times, given the emphasis on the passing sport within the fashionable NFL, Wilson entered draft season as one of many prime gamers on the place. In line with the High 100 board put collectively by our personal JP Acosta Wilson was the 61st participant total, and the second-highest off-ball linebacker in his rankings, behind Michigan linebacker Junior Colston.
In line with the Consensus Large Board compiled by Arif Hasan at Extensive Left Soccer, Wilson was the Forty fourth-ranked participant total, and once more the second-ranked linebacker, behind Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.
But because the third spherical wound down, Wilson was nonetheless ready for his title to be known as. It was a shock for just a few completely different causes, past the rankings on each the SB Nation huge board and the Consensus Large Board. In spite of everything, Wilson had a stellar remaining season at NC State, profitable the Bednarik Award (given to one of the best defensive participant in school soccer) and the Butkus Award (given to one of the best linebacker). He racked up a career-best 138 tackles, together with 17.5 for a loss (additionally essentially the most within the league) with six sacks, three interceptions and 10 passes defended.
However the purpose for the autumn?
His damage historical past.
Wilson battled quite a lot of accidents throughout his time in highschool and school. He suffered a torn ACL throughout his remaining highschool season, and a second knee damage early in his school profession. He additionally suffered a shoulder damage that reduce his 2021 season brief.
That was simply a part of the story. On Friday night time Ian Rapoport of the NFL Community reported that Wilson is lacking an ACL in one among his knees:
Simply now on NFL Community @rapsheet reported on Payton Wilson’s fall within the draft: “one among his knees doesn’t have an ACL” … if that is true his efficiency the final two years is completely outrageous.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) April 27, 2024
That slide ended when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Wilson with the 98th total choice, making him the best off-ball linebacker drafted by the group because the Steelers drafted Devin Bush within the first spherical of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Rapoport elaborated on that damage historical past shortly after the choice:
From our NFL Draft protection: The #Steelers chosen at No. 98 a stud LB with stellar tape (however very actual damage historical past) — NC State LB Payton Wilson. Regardless of all that, by no means misses video games and had one million tackles. pic.twitter.com/zaRRSUcsfp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2024
After the choose, Wilson talked about his strengths, and the way he suits in Pittsburgh. “My versatility speaks for itself,” stated Wilson. “I’m able to play within the field in addition to drop into protection.
“Rising up watching the Pittsburgh Steelers protection, that’s the approach I mannequin how I play. Laborious, quick, bodily and taking part in as robust as you’ll be able to play. Tremendous excited to get with everybody there and proceed to raise my sport.”
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin highlighted his manufacturing, and his instincts as a linebacker.
“He was a man we had excessive on our board,” stated Austin. “Favored him as a soccer participant. Very productive, quick, actually has good soccer instincts. All of the belongings you need in a soccer participant. Seeing him the place he was and having a possibility to get him, we thought that was factor and we like the place we’re at with that.
“He brings some velocity to our protection. He brings some physicality to our protection. The flexibility to cowl guys. That’s what I have a look at.”
It’s usually stated that crucial issues on the annual NFL Scouting Mix occur behind the scenes, from the conferences prospects have with groups to the medical examinations. That appears to have been the case with Wilson.
In the end, what he did this previous season at NC State — apparently with out an ACL in one among his knees — might converse for itself. And if Wilson can duplicate that form of manufacturing on the subsequent stage, the Steelers could also be very glad that slide occurred.
