Patrick Payton DL/EDGE Florida State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Patrick Payton DL/EDGE Florida State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.65 seconds (93%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.65 seconds (93%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.6 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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44% |
| Pass Rush: |
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69% |
| Run Defense: |
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67% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#177
Position rank:
#41
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| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1532 | ||
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) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dominique Robinson - Miami (OH) |
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83% |
| Eyabi Okie-Anoma - Charlotte |
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77% |
| Habakkuk Baldonado - Pittsburgh |
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73% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Patrick Payton, hailing from Miami, Florida, emerged as a defensive standout at Northwestern High School. He led his team to a 5A state championship and earned first-team All-Dade 8A-5A recognition. In his junior year, Payton racked up an impressive 17.5 sacks, including a dominant five-sack performance against the eventual 8A state champion Miami Columbus.
At Florida State, Payton redshirted in 2021 before making an immediate impact in 2022. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 13 games, recording 31 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks. His performance earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, making him FSU's first recipient of the award since 2012 and only the third in program history. Payton also received Freshman All-American Honorable Mention from College Football News.
Payton's trajectory continued upward in 2023 as he started all 14 games for the Seminoles. He amassed 44 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 10 pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles. This production led to honorable mention All-ACC recognition and the Monk Bonasorte Award. Payton's 10 pass breakups were the most by an ACC defensive lineman since 2016, showcasing his disruptive presence on the field.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional length and reach at 6'5", allowing him to keep blockers at bay and bat down passes effectively.
- Displays impressive bend and flexibility when rushing the passer, with the ability to turn the corner tightly.
- Possesses quick change of direction skills, enabling him to counter inside and close on quarterbacks rapidly.
- Shows good instincts and feel for working off blocks, adapting his rush plan as plays develop.
- Demonstrates fluid movement skills in space, with the ability to drop into coverage when needed.
- Exhibits a strong motor and pursuit skills, chasing down ball carriers from the backside.
- Has a knack for batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, disrupting passing lanes consistently.
- Early breakout age indicates potential for continued development and high ceiling as a prospect.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Needs to improve his get-off and ability to time the snap, as he's often not the first player moving at the snap.
- Must continue adding mass and strength to his frame to better handle NFL-level physicality.
- Can play with high pad level at times, leading to issues anchoring against the run.
- Relies more on finesse than power at this stage, needing to develop a more diverse pass-rush repertoire.
- Has room to improve his hand usage and technique when engaging blockers directly.
Scouting Report: Summary
Payton projects as a high-ceiling edge rusher with the bend and burst to be a day-one contributor in passing situations. His length and flexibility allow him to dip under tackles and flatten to the QB. While he needs to add more sand in the pants, Payton's frame suggests he can pack on good weight without sacrificing his twitch.
His ability to bat passes and disrupt throwing lanes is rare for his position, making him a three-down player who doesn't need to come off the field. Payton's get-off isn't elite, but his closing speed and motor compensate. He'll need to develop a more diverse pass-rush plan and improve his hand usage to consistently win against NFL tackles.
At the next level, Payton profiles as a weakside defensive end in a 4-3 or an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. His coverage skills and change of direction ability give him scheme versatility. If he can translate his college production and continue his upward trajectory, Payton has the tools to become a double-digit sack artist in the NFL. His ceiling will depend on how well he can add functional strength and refine his technique against pro-level competition.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
How other scouting services rate Patrick Payton (Overall Rank)
*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.