Steelers rookie LB excited to forego 'underwear practices' and compete

The Steelers' inside linebacker room has gone from being one of the team's weakest groups to one of its strongest in just a couple of years.

Pittsburgh capped off the room by drafting linebacker Payton Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wilson is not like any rookie, either. 

Following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, he said, "the first four weeks were amazing" and that he's been "able to pick the defense up quick."

That has allowed Wilson to excel early, which has him excited to finally forego practices in shorts.

"As a linebacker, you live to put on the pads. I call these underwear practices," Wilson said. "I can't wait for six weeks, five weeks, whatever it is, when we go to Latrobe."

Wilson does have a bit of a wait until the Steelers officially open training camp on July 25, but he can use that time to prepare for what the veterans have warned him about.

"Yeah, they said it's one of the hardest camps in the league," Wilson added. "But I'm blue-collar, grew up on a farm. I'm super excited to just kind of put the ball down and let's play ball."

One of the veterans who has not able to give him advice on Latrobe is linebacker Patrick Queen, who just joined Pittsburgh in free agency this offseason.

However, that hasn't stopped Wilson from picking his brain.

"Just little things," Wilson stated. "Just kind of being in his hip pocket like, 'Hey man, what did you see to do this?' He's so smart that he's able to kind of manipulate a quarterback."

Wilson seems to be taking advantage of all the resources around him. That leaves the biggest question mark around him as his health.

The 24-year-old has an extensive medical history, but if he can stay healthy, which he has the past two seasons at NC State, his upside seems limitless.

Wilson feels like he can do just that with early high expectations for his NFL career.

"Like I said since I was a youngin', I wanna be the best in the world," Wilson concluded. "I'm gonna come in, and I'm gonna help this team win a Super Bowl."

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.