With the official pre-draft visits winding down, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally hosted a prospect that is not among their top four positions of obvious need on Tuesday.
They did, however, meet with yet another potential draftee at what is the most glaring hole on their roster.
North Carolina State inside linebacker Payton Wilson and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton were at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for “top-30” visits with the Steelers. Wilson is the first player brought to Pittsburgh by the Steelers who is not an offensive lineman, cornerback, wide receiver or defensive lineman.
Barton is projected to play center in the NFL and is one of the highest-rated prospects at that position available in next week’s draft. The Steelers have yet to acquire a center since the early-spring release of their starter at the position the past two seasons, Mason Cole.
My favorite thing about Graham Barton is how well he stays engaged in his blocks. He has great strength and loves throwing defenders to the ground. Once he gets his hands on you, it's over. pic.twitter.com/edVGWKDJvA
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) April 13, 2024
Barton has achieved a status as a highly-coveted future center despite the fact he was first-team all-ACC the past two seasons… at left tackle. A three-year starter at left tackle, Barton’s lone college experience at center came as a freshman back in 2020.
The consensus for Barton’s draft spot falls in the bottom third of the first round. The Steelers hold the No. 20 overall pick and have previously had official visits with the other two top centers available, West Virginia’s Zach Frazier and Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Per the compilation site nflmockdraftdatabase.com, Wilson is most likely to be taken in Round 2. He’s an intriguing and somewhat polarizing prospect because he will turn 24 next week after an injury-riddled six-year college career. No fewer than five injuries have caused Wilson to miss time and/or undergo surgery, and he also was briefly suspended for an off-field incident in 2019.
Payton Wilson of @PackFootball reads P.A & transitions into rushing the passer.@payton_wilson21 gets vertical & beats the lunging blocker with a cross chop/rip for the sack! @CoachTonyGibson@chad_reuter has Wilson projected to go in the 1st round of the 2024 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/OIVSrMVAYN
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) April 13, 2024
But when Wilson was on the field, he was dynamic for N.C. State. The 2023 winner of the Bednarik and Butkus awards for the nation’s best defensive player and linebacker, respectively, Wilson ranked fifth in the FBS in overall tackles with 138 and tied for seventh in tackles for loss with 17 ½.
The younger brother of former Pirates pitcher Bryse Wilson, Payton Wilson tested well at the combine and is considered strong on coverage and in blitzing — elements the Steelers covet in their linebackers.
The Steelers have three league-allotted slots left for “top-30” visits and are expected to wrap up hosting prospects this week.
