Payton Wilson Projected to Take on Bigger Role with Steelers in 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers have restructured their inside linebacker group this offseason. Veteran Elandon Roberts departed in free agency, and the team brought in former Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison as a replacement. Cole Holcomb is expected to return from injury, and Washington linebacker Carson Bruener was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
To help fill the void left by Roberts, second-year linebacker Payton Wilson is expected to step into a more prominent role on defense. Pro Football Focus recently named Wilson the Steelers’ breakout candidate for the 2025 season.
Wilson, who dropped in the 2024 NFL Draft due to injury concerns, played a full rookie season and earned praise for his performance. He received a 77.3 grade in coverage from PFF, tying for sixth among linebackers, and played over 500 snaps in a rotational role. With Roberts gone and Patrick Queen showing inconsistencies, Wilson is in position to see significantly more playing time in his second year.
Throughout the latter part of the 2024 season and into the playoffs, Wilson’s snap count increased, including a season-high 41 snaps in the regular-season finale against the Bengals. He finished the year with 520 total defensive snaps and earned a 74.7 overall PFF grade, with standout moments including a forced interception against the Ravens and a fumble return touchdown versus the Bengals.
Heading into 2025, Wilson is expected to line up next to Queen and could emerge as a key defensive contributor. If he continues to build on his rookie success, the Steelers may have found a high-impact player despite earlier injury concerns.
