The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising move during the NFL Draft by selecting NC State linebacker Payton Wilson in the third round. Despite Wilson being the reigning Dick Butkus Award winner and an All-American linebacker, he fell much further in the draft than many expected.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin even admitted to being shocked that Wilson was still available at that point in the draft. The lack of linebackers drafted in earlier rounds played a significant role in Wilson dropping to the third round.
One of the main concerns about Wilson was his history of knee and shoulder injuries, despite his standout 2023 season. However, the Steelers conducted a thorough medical evaluation and felt comfortable taking a chance on him.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that more than half of the teams in the league don’t see Wilson getting a second contract due to his injury history. Nevertheless, the Steelers believe that the potential reward of drafting Wilson outweighs the medical risk.
The team views Wilson as a valuable addition to their defense and trusts that he can make a significant impact on the field. Only time will tell if the Steelers’ gamble on Wilson will pay off, but they are optimistic about his potential to contribute to their team. So, the Steelers took a chance on Wilson in the hopes that he will exceed expectations and become a key player for them in the future.
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