RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 28: Payton Wilson #11 of the NC State Wolfpack looks on following the game against the Clemson Tigers at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. NC State won 24-17. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

Payton Wilson [Grossly Overrated]

April 8, 2024 | Daniel Kelly | Articles

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It’s down to the nitty gritty and I am desperately trying to find the last two players to fill in on my first-round value board in the 2024 NFL Draft board, which led me to North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

No luck.

I can’t honestly believe Wilson is even in the first-round discussion. It’s embarrassing Wilson’s name is even uttered as a first-round prospect based on my game film study.

No disrespect intended.

I’m not talking about Wilson being rated that highly by just any draft platform either. Wilson got the nod from NFL.com.

Holy footballs.

That’s the whole reason I took the time to evaluate Wilson. I saw him mocked No. 25 to the Packers in the first round (March 26) by Bucky Brooks.

Wow.

Speed

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 29: Payton Wilson #LB30 of North Carolina State runs the the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

More mistakes are made by NFL teams from the time the regular season ends to draft day than any other time of the year.

This is when players trade in their football pads for shorts and tee shirts and run around little orange cones and teams become enamored with things like 40-yard-dash times.

I barely watch or pay attention to the off-season events.

In the spirit of Patrick Henry ⎯GIVE ME GAME FILM OR GIVE ME DEATH!

Game film is where it’s at and at First Round Mock, game film trumps everything. While I respect the testing process and like taking a glance at the results, that stuff can’t overtake the film grading process. It just can’t.

Yeah…yeah…yeah…

Wilson threw up a 4.43 40 yard-dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Note to teams: DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS SPEED IN GYM SHORTS.

No question, straight-line speed is Wilson’s greatest trait on game film too, but unfortunately, there is more to being a star linebacker at the next level.

As I always say, the dominant traits have to show up on the game film. The traits must translate to an actual game of football.

What the film says

I was stunned by how ‘mid’ Wilson looked on film against the pass and run.

Sure, I have to respect the fact he made a plethora of easier tackles. He’s a tackling machine when he’s left unblocked once the running back reaches his level a few yards downfield. This North Carolina State linebacker produced 138 tackles (69 solo and 69 assists) in 2023 and that is exactly how he looked on film with all the “assists”. Sometimes he’s motivated to make the tackle and the other times he’s not as motivated or he was kept in check by his physical limitations.

This dude is anything but a game-changer.

That ‘awesome straight-line speed,’ only showed up once in a blue moon too.

Injury-plagued

We can’t forget Wilson comes with the letter “M” next to his grade. The “M” stands for medical concern.

Outside of the game film, Wilson has a background that includes two torn ACLs and he has had surgery on both shoulders.

God bless him and I sincerely wish him well, but no.

#11 Payton Wilson 6-foot-4, 238 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Seventh-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 8.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 8, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Texas Tech, U CONN, Syracuse, and Clemson (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2023 game film reviewed: Marshall, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest

Wilson Combine Results

2023 stats: 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 3 interceptions

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Prospect with a good length frame and raw straight-line speed who has a hard time beating blocks. Looks like he’s guessing at times. Plays upright and lacks bend. Too passive. Able to drop into short zones and match up in man, but he’s an after-the-fact cover type who doesn’t have that short-area burst or flexibility to be a playmaker in coverage. Tight and awkward looking in space. Tentative as a blitzer. Lazy close toward the QB. No pop or explosiveness at the point. Easily stalemated. Gives up. Against the run can overrun lanes and tends to come in high. Undependable tackler. Clumsy at times. Tightness shows up in space when needing to make quick open-field adjustments.

Final words

This clickbait nonsense by other platforms gets on my nerves.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.