📄: Third Round: Payton Wilson | 📸: Payton Wilson in pictures | 📺: Pick Announcement | 📃: How Wilson fits with the Steelers | 📃: What to like about Wilson | 📺: Tomlin calls Wilson | 📺: Austin on Wilson | 📺: The pick is in ... Payton Wilson | 📺: College Highlights | 📺: Wilson's combine workout

The Steelers selected linebacker Payton Wilson from North Carolina State in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the 98th overall pick.

"He was a guy we had high on our board," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "Liked him as a football player. Very productive, fast, really has good football instincts. All the things you want in a football player. Seeing him where he was and having an opportunity to get him, we thought that was a good thing and we like where we're at with that.

"He brings some speed to our defense. He brings some physicality to our defense. The ability to cover guys. That's what I look at."

Wilson played in 46 career games, recording 402 tackles, including 202 solo stops. He had 15 career sacks for a loss of 101 yards, seven interceptions, 20 passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

"My versatility speaks for itself," said Wilson. "I am able to play in the box as well as drop into coverage.

"Growing up watching the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, that is the way I model how I play. Hard, fast, physical and playing as tough as you can play. Super excited to get with everyone there and continue to elevate my game."

Wilson was the winner of the 2023 Butkus Award, presented to the nation's top linebacker, and the Bednarik Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player.

Wilson played in 12 games in 2023, finishing with a career-high 138 tackles, including 69 solo stops. He also had a career-high six sacks for a loss of 34 yards.

Wilson, whose brother Bryce Wilson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021-22, is no stranger to Pittsburgh.

"I came to a few games," said Wilson. "It's one of my favorite cities of all time. Super familiar with the city. Also, super familiar with how much Pittsburgh loves their professional sports teams. Super excited to get there."

2023 SEASON:

• The winner of the 2023 Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker).

• The winner of the 2023 Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player).

• The 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

• A unanimous, consensus first-team All-American. He was honored by AP, AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp and the Sporting News, along with CBS Sports, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, PFF, College Football Network, Bleacher Report.

• Just the fourth unanimous consensus All-American in school history.

• The Butkus National Linebacker of the Month for September.

• Led the ACC and ranked fifth in the FBS in tackles with 11.5 per game.

• Boasted 17.5 TFL for the season - the 10th best mark in school history.

• 138 total tackles was almost double the rest of the team.

• Had a pick six in the win over Clemson, he scored by diving into the endzone.

• Led the ACC in tackles for loss, ranked 10th in sacks and fifth in fumbles recovered,

• Had two pass breakups on third down in the win over Miami.

• Named the ACC Linebacker of the Week for the UConn, Louisville, Marshall, Clemson and UNC games.

• Has 23 career double-figure tackle outputs, including nine in 2023.

• Led the team in tackles in every game this season except Clemson when he left early with an injury and Wake Forest.

• GPS clocked him at 23.7 miles per hour to chase down the ball vs. Notre Dame.

• A finalist for the Nagurski Trophy.