Payton Wilson's Ceiling Could Make or Break the Steelers' Defense in 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers will soon walk onto Saint Vincent College's campus to begin a new era for training camp. Head coach Mike McCarthy will be the first new head coach to lead his squad onto Chuck Noll Field in almost 20 years. While McCarthy spearheads the effort to iron out the offense, he hired Patrick Graham to revamp the talented defense. However, despite their talent, questions surround the unit. Some will look to the free safety spot, since Graham wants to move Jalen Ramsey around. One area, though, looms more pressing than the rest.
Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson appear to have locked down the inside linebacker jobs. Queen has played at a solid level to this point, but his teammate Wilson is still seeking consistency. The Steelers shuffled Wilson in and out of the starting lineup in 2025. If the Steelers want to get the most out of this defense, it begins and ends with Wilson.
Payton Wilson Could Be the Best ILB on the Steelers
Wilson's upside is sky high. He possesses incredible reaction speed and foot speed, and he has shown flashes of brilliant instincts. However, he is also a liability against the run at times. The Steelers benched Wilson in favor of Cole Holcomb in Week 3 against the New England Patriots. He eventually returned to the lineup and even produced a career game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers simply couldn't get that level of play out of him consistently.
When he is at his best, Wilson is unquestionably the best inside linebacker on this defense. The Steelers need him to reach that ceiling for the unit to become elite. If Wilson and Queen reach those heights together, they become a tough matchup for opposing offenses. Wilson once told reporters he could be the best cover linebacker in the NFL. That is what the Steelers banked on when they drafted him in 2024.
What Wilson Reaching His Potential Could Do for the Steelers Defense
Wilson reaching his potential and playing consistently well wouldn't just boost his own career, it would make the defense much better. Playing at a strong level, especially against the run, gives the Steelers more flexibility in their nickel and dime packages. Otherwise, they must replace him with a lighter defensive back or add a third edge rusher to the field. Either scenario could leave the Steelers weaker against the run or pile unnecessary snaps onto the edge rotation. These package situations should remain situational, not habitual.
Ultimately, Graham will need to find a way to utilize Wilson's strengths while developing him to overcome his weaknesses, and that effort starts at training camp. With Holcomb, Malik Harrison, and Carson Bruener all competing for the primary backup role, they could push Wilson too. After all, the heat of the Latrobe sun brings out the best in competitors. If Wilson can't reach his potential now, he might find himself looking over his shoulder at those three trying to take his place down the road.
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This story was originally published June 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM.