Despite having arguably the best film of any off-ball linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft and elite-level athletic traits and testing numbers, North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson fell drastically in the draft, all the way to the third round to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 98 overall.
Typically, when a player falls that far despite great tape, it has to do with medicals or character issues. For Wilson, it was strictly medical.
Throughout the pre-draft process there was seemingly always a “yeah, but” regarding Wilson, due to his medical history.
Two major knee injuries and shoulder issues hurt his stock even though he was healthy the last two seasons.