The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the 98th overall pick.

With the 98th pick in the 2024 #NFLDraft, we select LB Payton Wilson. pic.twitter.com/ydyirBtb5x

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024

Pittsburgh Selects LB Payton Wilson 98th Overall

🟡 89.9 PFF Grade in 2023 (3rd Among LBs) pic.twitter.com/rEijozvd87

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 27, 2024

DC Teryl Austin spoke to the media about LB Payton Wilson: pic.twitter.com/edPcBg541n

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2024

RD 3 | PK 98 – Steelers: Payton Wilson LB, NC State

With the 98th overall pick, the @Steelers select the highest rated linebacker by the NGS overall score (82) in this class.

Wilson will look to help a Steelers defense that allowed a league-high 1,713 passing yards in the… pic.twitter.com/f6wgZDig4u

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024

Hines Ward:
– Missing an ACL
– Drafted in the 3rd rd by the Steelers
– 92nd overall pick

Payton Wilson:
– Missing an ACL
– Drafted in the 3rd rd by the Steelers
– 98th overall pick

You can either see this as a coincidence or proof that the stars have aligned.

— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) April 27, 2024

How on earth Wilson was the 98th player drafted is beyond me. Winner of the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Winner of the Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in College Football. Winner of the Bednarik Award, given to the best Defensive player in College football. Unanimous All-American. 3rd best PFF Grade by a Linebacker in 2023. Fastest 40-time by a LB at the NFL Combine.

Yet, he was the 7th Linebacker taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Absurd.

With that being said, I can’t think of a more fitting place for Wilson to play. He was born to play in the Black and Gold. The Steelers are a blue collar club, who carry a long history of defensive greatness. Wilson plays with reckless abandon, and with his hair on fire, and that’s exactly what you expect out of a Pittsburgh Linebacker.

Maybe I’m showing my cards here…I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan…and I can’t believe Payton Wilson will be wearing the Black and Gold this Fall.

Congrats Payton!

NC State has signed Dave Doeren to a 2-year extension, but the extension comes with a raise. Doeren’s base salary in 2023 was $5.02 million.

According to Brian Murphy of WRALSports Fan, Doeren’s salary in 2024 will be $5.5 million, and it will increase by $125,000 each year of the contract. He can earn $1.325 million in academic and athletic performance bonuses on an annual basis.

Below is a breakdown of the bonus structure.

The bonus structure is the same as it was in his previous contract (see above), but the section entitled “Playoff” has been updated as follows:

Former NC State Wide Receiver Julian Gray has committed to play for Liberty next year.

This past season, Gray had career highs in receptions (16) and receiving yards (170). He ranked 4th on the team in receptions, and 7th on the team in receiving yards.

NC State has had 23 players enter the Transfer Portal

DT Nick Campbell
WR Julian Gray – Liberty
RB Delbert Mimms III – Eastern Michigan
TE Fred Seabrough
Nickel Cecil Powell – Troy
WR Christopher Scott – Austin Peay
OL Jaleel Davis – Florida International
WR Josh Crabtree – Murray St. 
OL Lyndon Cooper – Pitt
WR Terrell Timmons – Colorado
LB Torren Wright – Temple
NT C.J. Clark – Miami
QB MJ Morris – Maryland
S Jakeen Harris – UNC
TE Cedd Seabrough – West Georgia
WR Porter Rooks – Eastern Michigan
DB Nate Evans – Delaware
LB Daejuan Thompson
RB Jordan Houston – Marshall
RB Michael Allen – UNLV
DB Darius Edmundson – UNC-Pembroke
WR Anthony Smith – East Carolina
TE Christopher Toudle – Western Michigan 

NC State and Head Football Coach Dave Doeren have agreed to a 2-year extension, keeping him under contract through the 2029 season.

🚨 New contract for the Leader of the Pack! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/4Qj5o8NQv6

— NC State Football (@PackFootball) April 26, 2024

There is something to be said with consistency and stability. Dave Doeren is entering his 12th season at NC State, which ties him for the 6th longest tenure in College Football.

The details of the contract have not been released, and I will break them down when they are revealed, but his annual salary before was $5.02 million.

Here’s what the bonus structure was for Doeren and his assistants prior to today’s extension.