Pack in the Pros

Payton Wilson’s Draft Stock is Up After the NFL Combine

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2024

Matthew Bradham

NC State All-American Linebacker Payton Wilson’s Draft Stock is up after his showing at the 2024 NFL Combine.

In case you missed it, Wilson ran a 4.43 second 40-yard dash, which was the fastest by any Linebacker at the Combine.

Payton Wilson running a 4.44 is BEYOND impressive📈

pic.twitter.com/xOFZ3gekEb

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 1, 2024

The fastest 40 time by a linebacker this year! 4.43 #1Pack1Goal | @payton_wilson21 pic.twitter.com/78lYDQpvzD

— NC State Football (@PackFootball) March 1, 2024

According to ProFootballFocus, at the Combine Wilson established himself as the Top Linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft. While they don’t expect a Linebacker to be taken in the 1st Round (first time since 2011), if one were to be taken, they expect it would be Wilson.

STOCK UP: PAYTON WILSON, NC STATE
Wilson may have put to bed any debates about who the top linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft is after his performance in Indianapolis. His 4.43-second 40-yard dash placed him in the 98th percentile for linebackers while his 1.54-second 10-yard split was in the 91st percentile. He was also above the 50th percentile in the vertical jump (34.5 inches) and broad jump (9-foot-11). The last draft where there weren’t any first-round linebackers was in 2011. While still unlikely, Wilson seems like the only prospect this year who can continue the streak. (PFF)

Here’s what NBC had to say about Wilson’s stock after the Combine:

It is hard to overstate Payton Wilson’s astounding 4.43 40-yard dash time at 6-3, 233 pounds. It stands as a 99.5th percentile mark, while his 1.54s 10-yard split places Wilson in the 98th percentile speed wise. A fifth-year player, Wilson graded out as a 90th percentile on-field performer in both coverage (90.4) and tackling (90.6) by PFF and was in a three-way competition with Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper and Michigan’s Junior Colson to be the first off-ball linebacker selected. Though Cooper’s 9.34 overall Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was a very strong performance, Wilson’s 9.81 RAS at his jarringly-long proportions makes him a tantalizing proposition for any team in need of help in the middle of their defense. (NBC)

Cooper Petagna of 247Sports ranked Wilson as one of his “8 Biggest Winners” from the Combine.