Payton Wilson represents the apex of a recent trend in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ past two draft classes. Under general manager Omar Khan, they have proven willing to sidestep received opinion over medical concerns. They have landed at least five players of value because they were more comfortable with medicals than most teams.
You had Darnell Washington and Cory Trice Jr. last year, for example—Trice tearing his ACL as a rookie. This year, they used three of their top four picks on players who potentially had medical red flags. For Payton Wilson, the third-round inside linebacker, that flag was more like a bonfire.