The Pittsburgh Steelers are expecting a big year out of linebacker Payton Wilson. Season three will be a make-or-break campaign for him as he tries to establish himself as a key piece of the defense. Current expectations are that Patrick Queen's time in Pittsburgh will be up after 2026, so the team will need someone to fill his shoes and wear the green dot. It's better to have an experienced player who knows the playbook take that role, as opposed to a free agent acquisition that does not know the scheme yet.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
James Pierre (left) and Payton Wilson (right) make a tackle during the Steelers' 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
The talent is there for Wilson, as he showcased repeatedly, but can he be smarter and more consistent about his play? In his latest Q&A chat, Steelers insider Christopher Carter revealed a conversation he had with the linebacker during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) while also talking about his physical abilities.
"I don't know about elite, but I think Payton Wilson can be a higher-level LB than he has been. He has the athleticism and the size, he just needs to be better at shedding blocks and sticking to the run. I think if he gets that part of his game down, he'll also be more confident in coverage and he'll come along well," Carter explained. "He also told us he had to learn more of the defense. He admitted to us back in OTAs that the last two years, he primarily just knew what he was supposed to do, and this year, he'll know what everyone was supposed to do and help Patrick Queen as a green dot."
In a complicated defense with multiple rotating roles like Pittsburgh's in recent years, it definitely was not good for Wilson to only memorize his assignments on each play. The more that he understands the play, the better he can adapt quickly and make a play on the ball. He has shown off his high-end athleticism plenty of times, but now, he needs to put a strong emphasis on the mental side of the game in 2026.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson runs with the football during a game against the Indianapolis Colts in 2025.
Early on in his career, it did make sense for Wilson to primarily focus on his role, as he was just a rookie trying to figure out how the NFL works. As he grew more comfortable, however, he should have started trying to learn more pieces of the defense. If he has a better understanding of what's going on around him, he should be able to do his job better in both the run and pass game.
The great news for Wilson is the fact that the defense will be getting considerably simpler. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is building a basic scheme around what helps his players thrive, so it should not be too much of a problem for the former third-round pick to learn his teammates' jobs. This should be a big step for him to become a key piece of this defense for the future.
Steelers Are Going To Treat Wilson Like A Veteran
In 2025, Wilson took over as special teams captain in the middle of the season after Miles Killebrew suffered a season-ending injury. Not only do the Steelers expect him to be a quality player and a smarter athlete, but he is now supposed to be a leader. It's possible he could become the special teams captain again in 2026 while still learning the defensive playbook inside and out.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Patrick Queen celebrates with Payton Wilson during a win over the Miami Dolphins at home during the 2025 season.
Wilson won't have to lead the defense just yet, but that could all change as early as 2027. It doesn't matter that he is still one of the young guns of the unit; this could end up being his squad if Queen and possibly Cameron Heyward depart next season. This year is not just about being better in run defense. It's about seeing if he can be a true leader or not.
What do you think about Wilson admitting that he only focused on himself in recent years? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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