With the 98th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected NC State linebacker Payton Wilson — the third player with the surname “Wilson” that they’ve added to the roster over the past two months.

Wilson was one of two linebackers available in Day 2 that the Steelers had hosted on a top-30 pre-draft visit. As has been the case with most of Pittsburgh’s picks so far, it seems that the board fell to them perfectly, with Wilson having ranked 53rd overall on Marcus Mosher’s NFL expert consensus draft board ahead of Round 1. Despite his high upside and productive career at NC State, totaling 402 tackles over six seasons (48 for a loss), as well as 15 sacks, 1 forced fumble and seven interceptions, Wilson fell due to medical concerns.

The Steelers received the 98th pick, originally a compensatory selection belonging to the Philadelphia Eagles, along with two 2025 seventh-round selections, in exchange for 2022 first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett and the 120th overall pick.