The 2024 NFL Draft is filled with talent at all positions. That includes linebacker and North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson.
With the draft coming up, there’s a chance Wilson is the first linebacker off the board. Here’s everything there is to know about him.
How Tall Is Payton Wilson?
Following the end of his college career, Wilson attended the NFL Combine for his official measurements. He came in just barely under 6’4″, which would be above the NFL average.
The tallest linebacker in the NFL is Anthony Nelson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, standing at 6’7″, followed by three players at 6’6″ (Marcus Davenport, Tavius Robinson, and Andre Carter II). The shortest, meanwhile, is Ivan Pace Jr. of the Minnesota Vikings, standing at 5’10”.
How Much Does Wilson Weigh?
Wilson weighed in at 233 pounds, which is below the NFL average of 241.
The heaviest linebacker in the league is Jihad Ward of the New York Giants, coming in at 287 pounds. He’s followed by Joey Bosa, Rashan Gary, and Travon Walker at 280, 270, and 272, respectively.
The lightest linebackers, on the other hand, are Zeke Turner of the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans’ Otis Reese, who weigh in at 214 pounds each. Additionally, Jamien Sherwood of the New York Jets weighs 216 pounds.
How Old Is Wilson?
Born on April 21, 2000, Wilson is 24 years old, which places him as one of the older players in the draft. He spent six seasons in college, declaring for the draft as a graduate student.
The youngest linebackers in the NFL are Tuli Tuipulotu and Noah Sewell, both 21 years old. The oldest are Demario Davis, Justin Houston, and Von Miller, who are all still playing at 35 years old.
What School Did Wilson Go To?
Wilson was born in Hillsborough, N.C., attending Orange High School. As a junior, he made 127 tackles, including 39 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He also wrestled, winning the North Carolina 3A 220-pound state championship.
During his senior season, Wilson had 103 tackles, 21 TFLs, and 10 sacks before tearing his ACL. He ended up being rated as a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports. Wilson initially committed to North Carolina over Clemson, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech. However, he decommitted and signed with NC State instead.
Revisiting Wilson’s College Career
Wilson’s college career didn’t start fast. He suffered his second knee injury during summer training camp before his freshman season, leading to him redshirting.
In his redshirt freshman season, Wilson got on the field quickly and led the team with 69 tackles. His improvement continued into his redshirt sophomore season, making 108 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions — good enough to name him first-team All-ACC.
However, in the second game of his junior season, Wilson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Finally, after another lost year, he came back in 2023 and became a unanimous All-American, winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, the Butkus Award, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Wilson finished his college career playing in 47 games, making 402 total tackles, 48 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. He also had seven interceptions, one touchdown, 13 pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
Wilson ended up declaring for the NFL Draft and earned an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Wilson’s Potential in the NFL
According to Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings, Wilson is a top-50 prospect and one of the best linebackers in the class.
“He has my highest pure film grade in the 2024 LB class and could easily field consideration in the early-to-mid Day 2 range,” said Cummings.
“Unfortunately for Wilson, medicals will play a heavy role in his ultimate valuation and could drop him down the board. He has two torn ACLs in his history and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2021. Couple that with his leaner frame, which might not be as durable, and his profile could concern teams.
“That said, if Wilson passes medical examinations at the NFL Combine, he has the profile to be a starter right out of the gate in his NFL career, and if he can keep adding weight to his frame, the sky is the limit.”
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Payton Wilson
Some of Wilson’s best attributes include his height, explosiveness, flexibility, tackling, fluidity, and patience, among many other things. However, his weaknesses are his lean frame, injury history, and age.
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