Steelers Rookie Payton Wilson Earns Unique Praise From His Coach: "I've Never Had One Like Him"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have employed some of the best linebackers in NFL history. Jack Ham, Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, James Harrison, and TJ Watt are just some of the great outside linebackers who have worn the Black and Gold. Jack Lambert, Levon Kirkland, James Farrior, and Ryan Shazier are just a few who occupied the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. Since Shazier's career was tragically cut short, Pittsburgh has struggled to find a long-term replacement to shore up the middle of the defense. 

Omar Khan decided to expedite matters in 2024 and went outside of the organization and signed Patrick Queen to the biggest free agent contract in the organization's history. Queen spent the last four seasons in the middle of the Baltimore Ravens defense and, at just 24 years of age, made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 and was selected as a Second Team All-Pro. On Friday night, Khan selected North Carolina State inside linebacker Payton Wilson, who coincidentally is also 24 years old, to join him in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. 

Wilson was projected as a first-round talent during the draft process, but concerns about his health pushed him down on the draft board. North Carolina State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson made an appearance on The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Monday and not only dismissed any concerns over Wilson's health, but called the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player Of The Year Award winner the most unique player he has ever coached. 

"Linebacker position, I've never had one like him," Gibson said. "In 30 years of doing this, coaching at Michigan, Arizona, Pitt, West Virginia, I've never had a guy like him, ever. The size and, the speed, and the athletic ability. He's a smooth mover, never a wasted movement out on the football field. I never had one like him; I describe him as a unicorn. The kid loves to practice and loves to compete. He loves to play the game."

The First Team All-American spent six seasons with North Carolina State. A devastating knee injury in high school cost him spring practices his freshman season, and he reinjured the knee in 2018. Gibson arrived in 2019, and Wilson has been a terror on the football field throughout his tenure. He led the team in tackles in 2019 and in 2020, finished fourth in the country in tackles, and was selected First Team All-ACC. He lost a second season to a shoulder injury in 2021, but returned in 2022  to earn an honorable mention All-ACC nod. 

Wilson's 2023 season saw him rack up a career-high 138 tackles and a whopping 17.5 tackles for loss. He racked up six sacks, six pass breakups, and three interceptions, including a pick-six against the Clemson Tigers on the route to winning the 2023 Dick Butkus Award for the best linebacker in the country and finishing as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award that went to Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. 

Picking Wilson, who, when healthy, was the best available inside linebacker in the 2024 draft class, is a phenomenal value with the 98th pick in the NFL Draft. The third-round draft pick was part of the compensation in the Kenny Pickett trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. If the North Carolina State linebacker is, in fact, the unique talent Gibson suggests he is, then Khan will have spun gold from straw for the second season in a row. In 2023, he traded Chase Claypool for what turned out to be Joey Porter Jr. It is possible that by acquiring Wilson, he found a way to top himself in 2024. 

Steelers' 2024 Draft Class Has An Emerging Theme

Mike Tomlin, Andy Weidl, and Khan put together a strong draft class in 2023 and may have topped themselves with the 2024 class. Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Roman Wilson, Mason McCormick, and Payton Wilson have all been lauded for their love of the game. They are all high-character players who appear to be proverbial "gym rats."

After a season where the very fabric of the culture was questioned by multiple media members and former Steelers players, it is clear that Khan and Tomlin are prioritizing players who understand what it means to wear the Black and Gold in Pittsburgh. Grit and determination might not beat superior talent, but it can be the difference if it is close. Especially now that Khan has started to close the talent gap. Maybe now Tomlin can start dispensing some football justice of his own and find his way back to the Super Bowl.

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Pittsburgh succeeding in finding players ideally suited to represent the brand? Please comment below or on my X: @thebubbasq.

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