Payton Wilson
Position: LB – Projected: 2nd Round
History & Measurables
Born: Apr. 21, 2000 – Hillsborough, NC
High School: Orange
College: NC State
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 233 lbs
Traits & Characteristics
The Good
- Rangy
- Zone coverage ability
- Tackle strength
- Good pursuit angles
- Pass rush bend
The Bad
- Can’t get off blocks
- Lack of instincts
- Comes up small in big situations (third down, red zone)
- Inability to play man coverage
- Lack of aggression in run game
Advanced Analytics Notes – 2023
Run Defense Stats: Min 100 Snaps
- Run Defense Grade: 83.7 (T-18 among linebackers)
- Run Stops: 41 (T-11 among linebackers)
Pass Rush Stats: Min 40 Snaps
- PFF Pass Rush Grade: 76.8 (T-37 among linebackers)
- Pash Rush Win Rate: 6.6 (203rd among linebackers)
- QB Hits: 7 (T-9 among linebackers)
- Sacks: 6 (T-11 among linebackers)
- Hurries: 9 (T-98 among linebackers)
Coverage Stats: Min 100 Snaps
- Coverage Grade: 90.4 (T-6 among linebackers)
- Pass Breakups: 3 (T-12 among linebackers)
- Passer Rating Allowed: 47.2 (9th among linebackers)
- Interceptions: 3 (T-2 among linebackers)
- Times Targeted: 37 (T-50 among linebackers)
Film Notes and Highlights
Payton Wilson is a rangy linebacker. He has good speed and good pursuit angles, with surprising bend for the position. He has good tackle strength, but often leads with a bad pad level. His poor pad level is a major reason he can’t get off blocks once engaged, however. Once he is engaged, you’ll likely never see him released without relying on a spin move – the only move that allows him to break free. He will need to get much better at this in the NFL.
Wilson is good in zone coverages, understanding where he needs to be on the field. However, he really struggles in man coverage, often over pursuing or loses focus. He lacks instincts as a linebacker, and often is the last player on the field to realize where the ball is on RPO’s, play action, and misdirection. Payton Wilson is a Day 3 prospect who is likely to be drafted on Day 2 because of his length and speed, but he shouldn’t be. – Thomas Christopher
(Games Watched: vs Clemson 2022, vs UConn 2022, vs Notre Dame 2023, vs Wake Forest 2023, vs Marshall 2023)
Player Comparison
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Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.