Eagles Potential Draft Fit Payton Wilson
One of the more impressive but riskier prospects in this draft is Payton Wilson. At the linebacker position, it’s clear that Wilson is the most talented of the group. However, some serious questions will hinder Wilson throughout the process. An extensive injury history has to be questioned, especially in such a physical position as a linebacker. Regardless, the talent is elite for Wilson, and it could tempt the Eagles to select him on day two of the 2024 NFL Draft. Even though the Eagles addressed the linebacker position in free agency with Devin White and Zack Baun, there could be some more room for a player as talented as Wilson.
Payton Wilson is A Menace on the Field
It’s hard to miss Payton Wilson on the field. He is everywhere and regularly can make plays against both the pass and the run. Wilson declared after his fifth year at NC State, where he was extremely productive whenever he was healthy. Evident in his NFL combine workout, Wilson has freakish athleticism at the position. At 6’4” and 233 pounds, Wilson ran a 4.43 forty-yard dash, which matches up with how he flies around the field. Besides the athleticism, Wilson plays with a reckless abandon that fans cherish from watching linebackers. He’s not just a finesse, speed player. He is more than willing to throw his body around and deliver big hits, stopping ballcarriers in their tracks.
However, with that mentality comes the downside of Payton Wilson as a prospect. Wilson tore his ACL in high school, and while in college he had issues staying healthy with hamstring problems and most concerningly, shoulder issues. The injury concerns are prevalent and have caused him to miss most of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury. However, Wilson has always bounced back from the injuries, and his play on the field has never dipped. Other areas of improvement for Wilson lie in being able to take on offensive linemen head-on, as well as being able to diagnose plays a little faster. Yet, Wilson’s skillset is built for the current NFL, and the talent may outweigh the risks throughout his career.
The Fit for the Eagles
The Eagles addressed the linebacker position this offseason by signing Devin White and Zack Baun on one-year contracts. It was a good move by the Eagles and desperately needed. The linebacker play was the poorest among the poor defensive units on the Eagles last year. Baun, White, and a healthy Nakobe Dean could be enough to improve the unit going into 2024. However, that’s not a guarantee, as White was benched last year in the playoffs and Baun has never been seen as an impact player.
Even though Howie Roseman has never prioritized linebacker in the past, the results of last season may have sparked a change in him. Not only are White and Baun unreliable based on their recent performances, but they are also both still on one-year deals. Wilson could come in and not only be the Eagles’ best linebacker on day one but also be a longer-term and cheaper option at the position. The question shouldn’t be if the Eagles will draft a linebacker. It should be if they’re willing to spend early on a linebacker as talented as Wilson.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Payton Wison is a high-risk, high-reward player, that could either entice NFL teams or scare them away. He has the tools to be among the best linebackers in the league, but the injury concerns are not something to be shrugged off. For the Eagles, they may not feel the linebacker position is as big of a need as it was pre-free agency. Yet, their decision on drafting a linebacker will be telling on how confident he is in the position room for 2024. Wilson will probably end up going somewhere in the second round of the NFL draft. If he were to become an Eagle, his time on the field would quickly make him a fan-favorite and top contributor. Yet, it all depends on if he can stay on the field at the NFL level.
