The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to add more talent to their roster through the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Raiders and every other team in the NFL wrapped up meetings with players last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. The end of the Combine means the draft and free agency are approaching.
Coach Antonio Pierce and General Manager Tom Telesco are looking to find the right cultural fits that will help the team win football games in the long term. The Raiders put together a strong draft class in 2023 and are hoping to stack another good class on top of that one.
Under Pierce, the Raiders created a strong defensive identity. They could add another player to that defense to bolster that side of the ball.
One player they could add is North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson. A player with lots of experience, the Raiders could bring another tough competitor to their linebacker group.
Wilson finished his Wolfpack career with 402 total tackles, 48 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, 13 passes defended, seven interceptions, and 15 sacks. He was a unanimous All-American, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and a First-Team All-ACC member in 2023.
Wilson stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 235 pounds, giving him the ideal size for a linebacker in the NFL. He also has the athleticism to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL. He can play in space in the passing game and chase down running backs in the run game.
Wilson is an athletic freak. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash for a linebacker this season at 4.43. He also had a 34.5-inch vertical jump. He will be able to hang with the best athletes in the NFL.
Wilson had two seasons with 100 or more tackles, including a 138-tackle season in 2023. He is all over the tape when watching North Carolina State, consistently making plays in every facet of the game.
Not only is Wilson physically capable of playing in the NFL, he has the right mindset and leadership to win over a locker room. He was a captain for the Wolfpack last season and spent five seasons in Raleigh.
However, Wilson’s injury history may scare teams away. He tore his ACL in high school and then again in college. His age, coupled with those injuries, may scare away teams.
Wilson’s great combine may propel him higher in the draft, and he could go as high as the second round. If the Raiders want to add an experienced, athletic linebacker, Wilson could be a good fit.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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