Under Omar Khan, the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen their rookie classes both stick on the team and make instant impacts on the squad. Through his first three drafts, we have only seen one player so far not stick with the team, and that is due to a career-ending injury and not a lack of talent.
However, on the negative side, we haven’t seen a true superstar take over yet. Sure, we have gotten some good production from Joey Porter, Keeanu Benton, and Zach Frazier, but none of Khan’s draft classes have a truly elite option in the fold.
That could easily chance with Payton Wilson next year.
Wilson was a player who only got better through his rookie season. Initially viewed as a late first-round linebacker, he fell due to lingering medical concerns over his knee. This allowed the Steelers to scoop him up at the end of the third round.
While it wasn’t immediate, Wilson made opposing teams pay with his stout play and ability to take the football away. The sample size was small, but there are enough positives to believe that he will be a star as early as this season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have a diamond in the rough with Payton Wilson
Last year saw Wilson serve as only a rotational player initially before taking on more of a role later in the year. This season, he has no one stopping him from being on the field 70 percent of the defensive snaps or more.
What we saw last year looked promising. He can play sideline to sideline with his athleticism, and also has a knack for finding the football. His coverage was also sound for a rookie.
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Assuming he can take the proper steps forward, Wilson could easily break out in his second year. It isn’t uncommon to see a linebacker like him take that leap in year two, and if he can create a few more big plays, he will likely be a household name sooner rather than later.
He could even see his role grow if Patrick Queen has another slump of a season. While the hope is that Queen—a two-time Pro Bowler and high-contract free agent in 2024—can turn things around, Wilson could overtake him if we see the same inconsistencies in his game in 2025.
Based on his production last year and assuming an uptick in snaps, Wilson could be among the league leaders in tackles. Add a few turnovers to that resume, and you can already see a Pro Bowl opportunity for the second-year player.
The defensive line should be more stout this year, meaning Wilson will have cleaner lanes to make plays. Watch out, as he could easily develop into a franchise linebacker before our very eyes this season.