Patrick Payton
Patrick Payton  DL  Florida State | NFL Draft 2025 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Patrick Payton
Height
6-5
Weight
250
College
Florida State
Position
DL/EDGE
Class
Junior
Home town
Miami, FL
83.6/100
Player Rating
17
PositionRank (DL)
4.65
FortyYD Time
Sacks
4
Fumbles Forced
Tackles
18
Sol tackles
12

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%*)
Measurables:
Height: 6-5 (80%*) Weight: 250 (7%*)
Forty: 4.65 (O) (93%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.65 seconds (93%*)
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-5 (80%*) Weight: 250 (7%*)
Forty: 4.65 (O) (93%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 83.6 / 100
Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced
Offense Rating:
80%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Tackling:
43%
Pass Rush:
71%
Run Defense:
69%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 3rd
Overall Rank: #91 Position rank: #17
College Games: 33 College Snaps: 1255
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 77/100
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 93 Stars 247 RATING: 93/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Dominique Robinson - Miami (OH)
76%
Habakkuk Baldonado - Pittsburgh
73%
Nelson Ceaser - Houston
72%
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)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
47.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
14.0
*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.