Patrick Payton DE/EDGE LSU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #6 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/01/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.65 seconds (88%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #6 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 04/01/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.65 seconds (88%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
| Overall Rating: | 79.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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45% |
| Pass Rush: |
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68% |
| Run Defense: |
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70% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#261
Position rank:
#55 (DL)
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| College Games: 52 College Snaps: 2129 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 93/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trajan Jeffcoat - Arkansas |
|
86% |
| Eyabi Okie-Anoma - Charlotte |
|
84% |
| Eric Watts - UConn |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A four-star recruit out of Miami Northwestern High School, Patrick Payton collected 17.5 sacks during his junior season and helped lead the Bulls to a 5A state championship. He arrived at Florida State in 2021, redshirted, then carved out an immediate role in 2022 with 31 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks across all 13 games. That debut earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, making him only the third Seminole to receive the award.Payton's best college season came in 2023, when he started all 14 games for the 13-1 Seminoles and racked up 44 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, and 10 pass breakups on the way to honorable mention All-ACC. Those 10 pass breakups were the most by an ACC defensive lineman since 2016. He added 2 forced fumbles and sealed Florida State's overtime win at Clemson with a fourth-down pass deflection.
His 2024 numbers dipped to 11.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks across 12 starts, then he transferred to LSU for his final year. In 13 games for the Tigers in 2025, Payton recorded 34 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and just a single sack, though he added 9 hurries and 6 pass deflections at the line.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Outstanding straight-line speed for a 260-pound edge rusher, rare closing burst in pursuit
- Long arms allow him to lock out blockers and control engagement distance
- Proven ability to bat passes at the line, with 16 career deflections
- Clean chop-and-rip move to trim the corner on outside rushes
- Fluid inside spin counter that catches tackles leaning outside
- Presses the edge before redirecting, keeps tackles from settling into pass sets
- Frame has room to add functional weight without losing athleticism
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tackling is a persistent problem, whiffs too often in space and on contact at the second level
- Struggles to anchor against NFL-caliber drive blocks at his current weight
- Hip stiffness limits his ability to bend the arc and flatten to the quarterback
- Pass rush plan gets repetitive, too often attacking the same spot on the tackle
- Run defense recognition is slow, often caught out of position on read plays
- Senior production at LSU fell well short of expectations, only one sack in 13 starts
Scouting Report: Summary
Payton's tested speed is outstanding for an edge rusher his size, and it shows up on tape in chase situations. At his height, that kind of burst gives defensive coordinators something to work with off the edge. The problem is that the rest of his game has not caught up. His 2025 season at LSU was a step backward by every meaningful measure, and his tackling grades throughout college suggest a player who takes poor angles into contact and does not consistently finish. One sack in 597 snaps as a fifth-year senior is hard to spin, no matter how many hurries he racked up alongside it.The tools are real but limited in application. He can rush the passer on obvious passing downs, use his length to disrupt throwing lanes, and close on ball carriers from the backside. What he cannot do right now is hold up against the run, set a firm edge, or win consistently enough with his hands to translate his speed into sacks at the next level. His rush plan needs more variety; too often he attacks the same spot on the tackle and gets redirected when the initial move does not land.
In a 4-3 scheme, Payton fits as a situational pass rusher who can develop into a rotational piece if he adds strength and refines his technique. The ceiling is a sub-package contributor who earns snaps with his speed and length on third down. The floor is a camp invite who cannot stick because the run defense and tackling are not reliable enough to stay on the field.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Patrick Payton percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Patrick Payton (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
241.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
60.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.