The Pittsburgh Steelers received high praise from pundits for their impressive performance in the 2024 NFL Draft. They managed to address all their needs with great value picks throughout. One of the more exciting selections came in the third round when the Steelers drafted North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.
Wilson was dominant during his college career, but fell in the draft due to major injury concerns. Despite this, many pundits lauded the Steelers' decision, with some even calling Wilson the best linebacker in the draft. One pundit remarked that they would prefer just three seasons of Wilson over a decade from another linebacker, highlighting the immense potential Wilson brings. Securing him in the third round is thrilling for Steelers fans.
Steelers Inside Linebackers Coach Aaron Curry spoke to the media, expressing how impressed he has been by Wilson's performance so far.
"Pre-draft, my note on him was he's a football junkie. And he really is. He meets, he wants to be right, he takes constructive criticism properly. He wants all the answers. He's gonna study tape on his own, he's gonna come in with questions, he'll spend all day in the building if you let him. He's a football junkie, a high football character guy, he's fun to coach."
Curry, who played for the Seattle Seahawks and coached their defense from 2019 to 2022, brings a wealth of experience, particularly from working with the great linebacker Bobby Wagner. He compared Wilson's playstyle to that of Wagner, a nine-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro.
"My background spent a lot of time with Bobby Wagner. Bobby played fast like that, so seeing that speed, it's really exciting because you know there's gonna be some plays that only his speed can make. So I'm excited. I'm looking forward to those opportunities for him."
Being compared to a veteran linebacker who has won a Super Bowl and earned various accolades is always significant. However, this isn't the first major comparison for Wilson. One of the greatest linebackers in recent history, Luke Kuechly, also had high praise for him. Kuechly, known for his incredible speed, intelligence, and ability to get to the football, was exceptional during his career.
In a post-draft interview, Kuechly couldn't help but rave about Wilson's playstyle, even comparing him to a better and faster version of himself. That's extraordinary praise coming from one of the top linebackers of the past decade.
Steelers' Payton Wilson Is Confident Injury History Won't Slow Him Down
Injury concerns caused Wilson to fall in the draft, but neither the Steelers nor Wilson himself are worried. Wilson remains confident, noting that his past injuries and surgeries never slowed him down in college, and he doesn't expect them to be an issue in Pittsburgh. He joins an exciting group of linebackers, and it will be interesting to see the role he will play during the 2024 season.
Steelers fans are eager to see the impact Wilson can make in Pittsburgh. The praise from coaches and the comparisons to elite linebackers have given fans hope that they have a gem in their linebacker room. However, the true test will come when the season starts and Wilson gets game action. Steelers fans will be closely watching their new and promising linebacker.
