The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed five of their seven 2024 NFL Draft picks. The only ones yet to sign are first-round, No. 20 overall pick Troy Fautanu, and second-round, No. 51 selection Zach Frazier.
The Steelers are hoping that all seven rookies, including five undrafted free agents, will be able to help the team in the upcoming 2024 season, which has a lot riding on it for head coach Mike Tomlin.
In Tomlin's 17 seasons at the helm, he's never recorded a losing season, though it has been tested over the last several years. Many suspect that if and when that streak is ever broken, Tomlin could be on his way out in Pittsburgh. But it may not even matter; winning season or not, if the Steelers don't make it back to the postseason, changes could be inevitable.
Perhaps if not for Joe Burrow going down with a season-ending wrist injury, the Steelers might not have earned a wild card spot in the AFC and won 10 games. Burrow's absence led to the Steelers sweeping the Bengals last season, ending the season with three consecutive wins and a playoff berth.
This season will look much different than last for the Steelers, however—or at least they hope. The quarterback room underwent a major overhaul thanks to the signing of Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields. Free agency also provided the team with one of last year's most talented pass rushers in Patrick Queen.
Queen is definitely one of the prize picks out of free agency, but who he could be paired with this upcoming season is a player that could be considered the sleeper pick for the Steelers from the draft: former NC State linebacker Payton Wilson.
Payton Wilson could make an immediate impact for the Steelers in 2024
Payton Wilson, the Steelers' third-round, No. 98 overall pick, entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a ton of question marks attached to him. It had nothing to do with his play, however; it had everything to do with his extensive, albeit somewhat unusual, injury history.
From Wilson's senior year to his first summer training camp at NC State, the linebacker tore not one but both of his ACLs. In fact, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported during draft night that one of Wilson's knees doesn't have an intact ACL. The rookie has since disputed that claim, per The Athletic. Nevertheless, that alone has to be overly concerning for the Steelers.
But then in his redshirt sophomore season, Wilson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in just the second game of the 2021 season.
Not that all of that was overlooked by the Steelers, but looking at Wilson's production when he was on the field made them take a chance on the linebacker while others were sleeping on him. In Wilson's five seasons and 45 games, he was a tackling machine. The speedy linebacker racked up 402 total tackles, 48 for a loss, 15 sacks, and seven interceptions.
Last season alone, Wilson had 138 total tackles, one forced fumble, and three interceptions, including a pick-six. The former Wolfpack member is coming to Pittsburgh playing some of the best football of his career. What's even better is he's healthy. And if he stays that way, he could contribute in a big way for the Steelers in 2024, while leaning on veteran help.
Payton Wilson is already fitting in with the Steelers
Though there will be veterans Queen and even Elandon Roberts, Wilson further adds to what has been an inside linebacker room lacking in Pittsburgh for a while now. Really, the position hasn't been the same since the loss of Ryan Shazier. Even last year, when the team thought they had finally figured it out, injuries to both Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander put a damper on the defense.
After just the second day of OTAs, the room looks to already be much improved. Queen, coming over from rival Baltimore, is just one addition who seems to be fully accepting of the Steelers' third-round pick.
“Athlete. Got that mindset. You can kind of tell the way he talks,” Queen said on Wednesday of Wilson, according to NFL Writer Aaron Becker. “He’s a really smart player. … That’s the type of guy you want in your room.”
Though it's safe to say the Steelers will be keeping a close eye on Wilson's health, he could come in and make an immediate impact on their defense this upcoming season. With Pittsburgh in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL in the AFC North, facing the likes of Burrow and last year's MVP Lamar Jackson, having a speedy athlete like Wilson will be welcomed.
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