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Patrick Payton 2026 NFL Draft Profile | EDGE from LSU
Scouting Report
Patrick Payton is a long, technically sound edge defender who transferred from Florida State to LSU after earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2022. The former 4-star recruit stands 6-5, 250 pounds with a frame that still has room for growth, and he wins with technique rather than raw explosion. Payton sets up his pass-rush moves well by stemming, using hesitation moves, and head-shoulder fakes to get offensive tackles to stop their feet before deploying swim, ghost, and spin moves. He uses his hands well as a pass-rusher and effectively leverages the stem phase of his rush to create advantages at the point of attack. In run defense, Payton shows good block recognition, particularly against zone concepts, putting himself in correct gap position with disciplined play. He takes on blocks with tight hands and lands his punch on the blocker's chest while staying disciplined when unblocked to avoid getting too far upfield. However, Payton has a wiry build that lacks the strength to hold his ground against the run, and he is not explosive off the line with poor get-off that limits his ceiling as a premier pass-rusher. He plays with subpar pad level and struggles with lateral movement, reducing his effectiveness as the looper on line games. His draft stock dropped from 138th to 254th on one big board between his pre-season and post-season evaluations, suggesting his 2025 campaign at LSU did not meet expectations. Payton can contribute as a pass-rusher early in his NFL career but will need significant time in the weight room to hold up in the trenches at the next level.
Strengths
Sets up pass-rush moves well with stemming and hesitation fakes
Good use of hands as a pass-rusher with multiple winning moves (swim, ghost, spin)
Effective use of the stem phase to create advantages
Good block recognition against zone runs for proper gap positioning
Takes on blocks with tight hands and lands punch on blocker's chest
Stays disciplined when unblocked to avoid getting too far upfield
Frame has room for growth at 6-5, 250
ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2022)
Weaknesses
Wiry build lacks strength to hold ground against the run
Not explosive off the line -- poor get-off
Plays with subpar pad level and leverage
Lacks lateral movement skills and change of direction
Limited ability to turn speed to power
Struggles to get extension on blocks despite long arms
Difficulty handling combo blocks from two tight ends
Draft stock dropped significantly from summer to post-season boards
Player Comparisons
Dorance Armstrong
College Stats
Florida State (2021-2024): ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year 2022, Honorable Mention All-ACC 2023; LSU (2025): Transfer season
Measurables
Metric
Value
Height
6-5
Weight
260
Arm Length
33
Hand Size
10
Awards & Honors
4-star recruit (247Sports); ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2022); Honorable Mention All-ACC (2023); 2026 NFL Combine invitee; Bleacher Report grade 6.9, ranked 93rd overall, EDGE11