Patrick Payton is a bit of a riddle wrapped in 6-foot-6 frame. If you’ve been following the Patrick Payton NFL draft cycle, you know the vibe. One Saturday, he looks like a future Pro Bowler who can slap a tackle’s hands away and bend the corner with the grace of a track star. The next? He might be relatively quiet, leaving draft analysts scratching their heads while staring at a box score that doesn't quite match the physical tools.
The talent is undeniable.
Honestly, the "length" conversation gets brought up every five seconds with him. He has these vines for arms that make life miserable for quarterbacks trying to find a throwing lane. We aren't just talking about sacks. We're talking about the 19 career pass deflections. For a defensive end, that is a ridiculous number. It’s basically like having a shooting guard playing on the edge of your defensive line.
The Journey from Tallahassee to Baton Rouge
Most people remember Payton as the guy who won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year back in 2022 at Florida State. He was part of that terrifying defensive front alongside Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. When Verse left for the NFL, everyone expected Payton to be the undisputed alpha in Tallahassee.
He was productive in 2024, sure. He put up 11 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. But the Seminoles' season was, let’s be real, a disaster.
So, he hit the portal.
He landed at LSU for the 2025 season. He wanted to prove he could thrive in the SEC, the closest thing we have to a minor league for the NFL. He joined a defense led by coordinator Blake Baker, looking to fill the void left by guys like Bradyn Swinson. While his sack numbers at LSU weren't eye-popping—just 1.0 sack in the 2025 regular season—his impact was felt in other ways. He became a more disciplined edge setter. He learned how to handle the "big boys" of the SEC who weigh 330 pounds and want to bury you in the dirt.
What the Patrick Payton NFL Draft Profile Actually Looks Like
If you’re a GM, you’re drafting Payton for what he can be. He’s currently listed at around 255 pounds. That's lean. In the NFL, that's almost "tweener" weight for a traditional 4-3 defensive end.
Teams that run a 3-4 system are probably drooling. They see him as an outside linebacker who can drop into coverage if needed—though why you'd waste that pass-rush upside is beyond me—and use his speed to hunt down mobile QBs.
The Good Stuff
- Insane Wingspan: He uses his reach to keep offensive linemen from getting into his chest. If a tackle can't grab him, they can't stop him.
- First Step: His explosion off the snap is elite. He’s often two steps into his rush before the tackle has even finished their kick-slide.
- Instincts: He doesn't just blind-rush. He watches the QB’s eyes. If he can’t get home, he jumps. That’s how you get those 19 pass breakups.
The Stuff That Needs Work
- Lower Body Strength: He still gets washed out on some downhill run plays. SEC tackles found ways to move him when they got their hands on him.
- The Motor: Critics sometimes point to his "idling." There are plays where he seems to shut it down if the initial move doesn't work. NFL coaches will break film on that for hours.
- Inside Counters: He loves the speed rush and the long-arm. He needs a consistent inside counter to keep tackles from over-setting.
Where Does He Get Drafted?
The 2026 class is deep on defense. You have monsters like Reuben Bain Jr. and Arvell Reese hogging the Round 1 headlines. Currently, the Patrick Payton NFL draft projections are all over the map. Some mock drafts have him sliding into the back end of the second round because of his unique athletic profile. Others see him as a Day 3 "project" with a high ceiling, landing somewhere in the 4th or 5th round.
The NFL Mock Draft Database has seen his stock fluctuate wildly over the last year. He’s been as high as a fringe first-rounder in early 2025 and as low as a 7th-rounder in recent January 2026 mocks.
It basically comes down to the Combine.
If Payton shows up in Indianapolis and runs a sub-4.6 forty at 6'6", some team will fall in love. They always do. You can’t teach height, and you certainly can’t teach that kind of reach. He’s a "traits" prospect through and through.
The "LSU Factor"
LSU has a habit of putting guys into the league who perform better on Sundays than they did on Saturdays. Think about Danielle Hunter. He had almost no college production, but his physical traits were so loud that the Vikings took a chance. Look at him now.
Payton fits that mold. He was a "winning starter" type in college but might actually be a better fit for the NFL's spacing and pass-heavy schemes. In the SEC, he had to deal with a lot of "heavy" personnel and double teams. In the NFL, he’ll get more one-on-one opportunities on the edge.
He’s a player who needs the right coaching staff. A team that uses a wide-9 alignment—where the end lines up way outside the tackle—would be perfect. It would give him the space to use his speed and length without getting bogged down in the interior muck.
Final Outlook for April
We are looking at a classic "boom or bust" prospect.
If he lands with a defensive line coach like Kris Kocurek or someone who specializes in get-off and hand-fighting, Payton could be a 10-sack guy within three years. If he goes to a team that asks him to play as a heavy 5-technique and eat double teams, he’ll struggle.
Expect to see his name called on Friday or early Saturday of draft weekend. He has done enough at two major programs to prove he belongs on an NFL roster. Now, it's just about finding the right fit.
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Next Steps for the Draft Season:
- Watch the Senior Bowl: If Payton gets an invite, his one-on-one reps against top-tier tackles will be the most important film of his life.
- Track the Weigh-In: NFL teams want to see him closer to 265 pounds without losing his twitch. If he shows up at the Combine with "good weight," his stock will soar.
- Monitor Team Needs: Keep an eye on the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Rams. These are teams that desperately need edge depth and have shown a willingness to draft for traits over pure college stats.