The Pittsburgh Steelers may have brought in a bunch of veterans to add to the defense in 2025, but they are still excited to see how the young players grow and develop. One of those guys is Payton Wilson, a third-round pick from 2024. He originally dropped in the draft because of the fact that he was missing an ACL, but he quickly proved that that did not matter. He was still explosive and tough as a rookie, as he made many highlight-reel plays, while also staying steady and making the basic plays as well.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Payton Wilson makes an insane interception against the Ravens.
There is another team that was interested in Wilson during the draft process in 2024, or at least a coach from another team. While making an appearance on Breakfast with Benz, former Steelers linebacker Larry Foote explained to Tim Benz of TribLive his excitement for the young linebacker in the first place.
"Payton Wilson, I was trying to ‘recruit’ him," Foote said. "We hosted him for a visit to Tampa. He’s good, a talented guy. I know he’s fast. He can run. He’s in a good place to learn ball."
Foote is now the outside linebackers coach / run game coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even though he does not typically work with the inside linebackers, he can still clearly spot talent easily, and there is no denying the upside of Wilson. It is unclear where Tampa Bay had him on its draft board, but he obviously was not high enough. The Buccaneers' loss is now Pittsburgh's gain.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Payton Wilson scores the first touchdown of his young career against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024.
In his rookie season, Wilson didn't even play half the snaps on defense, but he still made himself known on the field. He had 78 tackles, two passes defended, an incredible interception, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries, with one of them going back for a Steelers touchdown. Now, he is expected to be a full-time starter next to Patrick Queen. His production should only skyrocket from here, as there is still another gear for him to hit.
Foote and the Buccaneers have a quality linebacker core of their own with a good mix of amazing vets like Lavonte David and young guns like Yaya Diaby. However, you can never have too much depth. Wilson would take that high-end defense and make it even more scary to go against. Instead, Pittsburgh has the elite depth with one of the biggest steals of the 2024 draft.
Steelers Gain From Foote Being Unable To Convince Buccaneers To Take The Shot
The Steelers selected Wilson with the 98th overall pick in 2024. The Buccaneers had the 87th and 92nd overall picks, but they passed on him both times. They used the first of their third rounders on Tykee Smith, who has shown he can be a quality safety. At pick 92, they selected receiver Jalen McMillan, who is currently slated to be a backup after they drafted another receiver in the first round of the 2025 draft.
Cliff Welch / PR
Tampa Bay wide receiver Jalen McMillan during practice.
At the very least, Foote knows that he was right about Wilson, and that his scouting abilities may need to be taken into account a little more serious now. Another good thing for Foote is that Wilson was drafted by his former team, and the Steelers are known for developing defensive stars seemingly out of an assembly line. Watching the second-year player will likely be an absolute treat for Foote.
There is still a lot for Wilson to learn. Primarily, he will likely end up becoming the quarterback of the defense in the future. Queen has two years left on his deal, so he at least has some time to learn the playbook in its entirety. For a unit that had communication problems all throughout the 2024 season, it's critical for Wilson to know every single thing about the defense, so he can be a leader on top of his amazing on-field skills.
What do you think about Foote wanting Wilson in Tampa Bay? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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