When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Payton Wilson with the 98th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, some experts thought general manager Omar Khan had found an absolute steal. Wilson slid on draft day due to a concerning injury history (including the lack of an ACL in one knee), but talent-wise, he had the total package.
Though Wilson has stayed healthy in his first two NFL seasons, inconsistencies have plagued his career early on. Now, Wilson is watching fellow young teammates break the bank with massive contract extensions, and he'll be eligable for a new deal next offseason.
But unless he picks up his performance, Wilson could miss out on millions in a new deal.
Payton Wilson's next contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers is riding on his 2026 performance
Wilson has flashed game-changing ability since entering the league. The talented linebacker has recorded an interception in each of his two seasons while scoring a touchdown off a 22-yard fumble recovery as a rookie in 2023. Last year, Wilson tallied 126 total tackles, six tackles for a loss, and two sacks despite playing just 63 percent of the team's total defensive snaps.
While Wilson always seems to be around the ball, he needs to prove that he can process a bit faster and not have lapses in coverage. Pro Football Focus credited Wilson with allowing 45 receptions on 52 targets in his direction for 410 yards and two touchdowns last season for a 104.3 passer rating. This was still better than the numbers fellow linebacker Patrick Queen surrendered, but it still misses the mark.
As a result, Wilson earned just a 48.4 coverage grade in 2025 from PFF. This wasn't just an issue with the young linebacker, but with the middle of Pittsburgh's defense as a whole.
As of right now, it would be hard for the Steelers to justify devoting top dollar to Wilson on a new deal. The consistency hasn't been there when he's been on the field, and Wilson has yet to be a full-time starter at the position.
But the potential remains for a massive breakout season.
At 6'4'' and 238 pounds with blazing 4.43 speed and a knack for the football, Wilson has the tools and talent to be one of the best linebackers in the league. However, this will require more discipline in coverage. Meanwhile, Wilson must get better at taking on blocks and holding up against the point of attack (though this will probably never be his strong suit).
Currently, the top-billed off-the-ball linebackers in the league—Fred Warner, Jack Campbell, and Roquan Smith—are making at least $20 million per season, via Over the Cap. Additionally, 11 linebackers are making at least $13.5 million per season (including Wilson's teammate Patrick Queen).
Teammates Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington have already raked in rich new deals, and it already looks like Wilson's 2024 classmates—Zach Frazier, Troy Fautanu, and Mason McCormick—will be cashing in next offseason.
Wilson has the physical makeup and ability to be one of the top-10-paid linebackers in the NFL, but a future contract extension with the Steelers could be determined by how he performs in 2026. If Wilson wants to break the bank, everything is riding on this season.
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