Pittsburg, PA

Mike Tomlin Welcomes Payton Wilson To Pittsburgh, Says He Loved His Pre-Draft Process

Published

2 years ago

April 29, 2024

Mike Tomlin Welcomes Payton Wilson To Pittsburgh, Says He Loved His Pre-Draft Process

With the No. 98 pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected NC State LB Payton Wilson. If you watched any amount of his tape, or looked into his impressive collection of college accolades, it was a surprising tumble into the late third round of the draft. Some analysts have pretty strongly stated their opinion that he is a first-round talent that slid due to injury concerns with his extensive history.

As head coach Mike Tomlin does with every player, he called Wilson to let him know that he was being selected by the Steelers.

“I just loved the process, man. We got a chance to meet you in Mobile, and then we brought you in here. That’s just how we work,” Tomlin said in a video posted on the Steelers’ website.

The Steelers had Wilson in for a pre-draft visit, but they also spent time with him at the Senior Bowl in late January as one of the first steps in the process. If his meetings with Tomlin and the Steelers were anything like his interviews with the media at the combine, I am sure Tomlin came away impressed, as I was.

Tomlin was asked in his post-draft press conference if he just goes where he wants and talks to whoever he wants in Mobile and said, “pretty much.”

He is one of the most involved coaches in Mobile, often being right in the middle of a drill, and interacting with as many players as possible. He would have gained great exposure to Wilson both on the practice field and in the meetings they hold with teams after practice.

“I wanna make every play,” Wilson told me in Mobile. “If we play 90 snaps, I wanna make 90 tackles and I’m not coming off the field.”

He also talked extensively about his conditioning and nutrition, and was an open book about his injury history and how he feels he has overcome it. He came off very humble, but very focused on football and doing whatever it takes to be the best player he can be.

Wilson had a solid showing at the practices during the Senior Bowl. He landed on Daniel Jeremiah’s top-10 winners from the week of practice. His athleticism was evident as he stuck with running backs and tight ends in the coverage drills really well. He told me anything below a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and he would be happy. He set that goal and accomplished it with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

“This is, it’s not a lightning strike,” Tomlin told Wilson. “You are our type of guy, and we’re glad it worked out, man. We’re just excited about getting you up here, and the big thing is we just wanna wish congratulations to you and your family.”

He has a great opportunity ahead of him with Cole Holcomb’s status still unknown working his way back from injury. Elandon Roberts isn’t under contract past 2024, so alongside Patrick Queen he has as good a shot as any to be a starter moving forward.

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Pittsburg, PA

Oneil Cruz Powers Pirates Past Astros

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz needs to have a great season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 and his strong Spring Training continued in their most recent victory.

Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray in the top of the fifth inning, playing a big role in the 5-2 victory at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He waited on a changeup on the second pitch, 85.1 mph over the middle of the plate and sent it 106.4 mph off the bat and 368 feet, scoring both left fielder Billy Cook and third baseman Alika Williams with two outs.

That marks the first home run for Cruz in the Grapefruit League, who has had a great Spring Training so far, slashing .538/.600/.846 for an OPS of 1.446 in five games, with seven hits in 13 at-bats.

Pittsburgh got the win after the top of the sixth inning, after a rain delay ended the game.

Pirates Rookie Pitchers Have Up-And-Down Showing vs. Astros

Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his second start for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and dominated vs. the Astros.

Sep 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (67) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Ashcraft threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk, while posting two strikeouts for Pittsburgh.

Former Pirates pitcher, right-handed starter Mike Burrows, countered Ashcraft for the Astros. He threw three scoreless innings himself, allowed one hit and a walk and posted four strikeouts.

The Pirates traded Burrows to the Houston Astros in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 19, that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed relief pitcher Mason Montgomery.

Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his second appearance for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and threw two innings.

Chandler immediately loaded the bases, walking both third baseman Carlos Correa and first baseman Christian Walker, then giving up a single to center fielder Cam Smith.

He came back and struckout right fielder Taylor Trammell and got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to pop out, but gave up a single to second baseman Brice Matthews and a run to the Astros, before ending the inning with a strikeout.

Chandler also gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, on a slider down in the zone.

He finished his outing with three hits, three walks and two earned runs allowed over 1.1 innings pitched, before left-handed pitcher Derek Diamond got the last two outs of the inning.

Chandler struggled in his first Spring Training start vs. the New York Yankees at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Feb. 23, where he allowed four earned runs over 1.2 innings of work.

Feb 23, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) throws a pitch during the second inning against the New York Yankees at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pirates will need better showings from Chandler, who should serve as a key piece of their starting rotation in 2026.

Other Important Notes from Pirates Victory

The Pirates added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Cook hit a single that scored second baseman Nick Yorke and then Williams singled, scoring Cook to make it a 5-2 ball game.

Cook had just one hit in eight at-bats coming into this game and scored twice in the victory, as he walked before the Cruz home run.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna led the Pirates with two hits, a good sign for them, as they’ll rely on him greatly for his power and hitting in 2026.

The Pirates are now 7-2 in the Grapefruit League and tied with the Yankees for the top of the standings.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

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