2022 NFL Draft: North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson has a nose for the ball

A scouting report on North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson who is one of the most productive linebackers in college football for the 2022 NFL Draft.

One of the most productive linebackers in college football over the past two seasons is Payton Wilson of North Carolina State. In 2019, he led the team in tackles with 69 despite only starting one game. He upped his game this past season as well, leading the ACC in tackles per game with an average of 10.8 tackles a contest. He finished the 2020 season with an impressive 108 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions.

It would not be a shock to see production jump this season as well and it is not out of the question to see him being one of the leading tacklers in the nation this season

When evaluating Wilson’s game the first thing that stands out is his ability to play in space. He has impressive speed for a linebacker and this summer tested out as the second-fastest player at North Carolina State.

His speed allows him to play sideline to sideline against the run which is one of the reasons he was able to account for so many tackles the past two seasons. This speed and his overall agility also allow him to match up against any tight end or running back in coverage as well.

Another positive with Payton Wilson is that he is one of the surer tackles in the 2022 NFL Draft. He does a great job of wrapping up when tackling and brings enough force to consistently bring the ball carrier down. He is also helped by his high school wrestling background in this area consistently playing with good leverage.

One concern with Wilson is that despite being 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds he lacks ideal strength. He can be manhandled by blockers at times and still prefers to run around blocks instead of taking them on. Teams could also be scared about his 2019 arrest although these charges mainly dealt with underage drinking and he has not been in trouble since

Going into the 2021 season Payton Wilson carries a third-round draft grade. He will likely get looks late on the second day of the draft due to his overall versatility since he holds up well against both the run and the pass.

In addition to his outstanding play on the defensive side of the ball, he has been a key member of the North Carolina State’s special team’s unit during his college career which will only raise his stock with NFL scouts.