If the Steelers hand Payton Wilson an even bigger function this offseason, he, and his physique, might be ready for it. The second-year inside linebacker advised reporters yesterday he elevated his weight since his rookie 12 months. Presumably, the aim is to play the run higher, however he believes he has additionally retained his velocity.
In accordance with Ray Fittipaldo, Payton Wilson weighed round 235 as a rookie however is now as much as 243. That’s about as excessive as he desires to go, nonetheless, for a number of causes. For one factor, he stated it’s not straightforward for him so as to add weight. And he merely doesn’t consider he wants that a lot bulk to do what he must do.
“It’s not the best factor on the earth”, Wilson admitted, so as to add bulk to his explicit lean body. “I can placed on weight once I have to. I don’t suppose there’s any actual motive to be operating round at 250 kilos. I believe my velocity is likely one of the finest on the earth proper now on the linebacker place. At 243, I’m simply as quick as I used to be final 12 months. It’s stability of measurement and velocity and energy”.
The Steelers chosen Payton Wilson within the third spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he cut up time with Elandon Roberts subsequent to Patrick Queen in the midst of the protection. He completed the season with 492 snaps, and one other 301 on particular groups. All advised, he recorded 78 tackles, three for loss, with an interception, compelled fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He returned a kind of recovered fumbles for a landing.
This offseason, the Steelers opted to not re-sign Elandon Roberts, who beforehand expressed a want to return. It’s not clear precisely what meaning for Payton Wilson, nonetheless. Additionally they signed Malik Harrison in free company, and retained Cole Holcomb, who missed final season as a consequence of damage.
The Steelers signed Holcomb in 2023 to be their every-down linebacker, however he hasn’t been wholesome most of that point. Now he’s, so does the teaching employees see him returning to the sector in a distinguished function? Patrick Queen’s price ticket alone would make it tough to take him off the sector.
Nonetheless, Payton Wilson appears the overwhelmingly most probably candidate to take at the very least the vast majority of the snaps subsequent to Queen. If the added weight can assist broaden his versatility to play each the run and the cross, all to the higher. However they actually want to enhance the run sport.
“It’s one of many factors of emphasis we’ve honed in on”, Wilson stated of the Steelers’ run protection. That space of the unit fell aside late final season, culminating in a 299-yard efficiency by the Ravens. “We’re correcting some schematics and being schematically sound to enhance on a few of these issues”.
All of it sounds good in Could, however time will inform what this all means. For now, Wilson is taking all of the reps with the first-team unit, however in OTAs, that doesn’t quantity to a lot. Similar to confidence in an improved run protection.
