Steelers Payton Wilson makes a play in Week 11 that Seahawks should be jealous of

The Seattle Seahawks decided they wanted to move on from future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner and solid veteran Jordyn Brooks this offseason. Neither was going to be a help in new head coach Mike Macdonald's defensive scheme, 12s were told. Wagner and Brooks stunk in coverage while 2024 free agent signees Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson would be.

As it turns out, Dodson and Baker weren't good. The team got rid of both halfway through the season - Baker was traded and Dodson outright released - and Seattle had to rebuild at ILB. Ernest Jones IV came over from the Tennessee Titans in the Baker trade and he has been fine in most of his first few games with Seattle. Fourth-round 2024 draft pick Tyrice Knight took over for Dodson in Week 11.

The issue is that general manager John Schneider chose right guard Christian Haynes in the third round of the draft, and he could have taken linebacker Payton Wilson. The knock on Wilson was that he was injured in college and maybe he would not hold up well in the NFL. That might still be true, of course, but there was little doubt as to Wilson's raw athleticism either.

Seahawks should have drafted Payton Wilson instead of Christian Haynes

There is no better example of that than the play he created in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a pass down the sidelines to a receiver extremely tightly covered by Wilson, the pass at first appeared to be complete, but while both the receiver and Wilson were going to the ground, the linebacker ripped the ball out for an interception. It was an incredible display of high football IQ as well as ability.

Through 10 games, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has given Wilson a very good grade in pass coverage. He has allowed 18 of his 22 targets to be completed, but for only 123 yards and no touchdowns, plus he now has the interception. He needs to improve in run defense, but he likely will with more experience.

He simply seems like he would have been a great fit in Mike Macdonald's defense. He could have been drafted instead of Haynes, and the Seahawks could have still taken Knight in the fourth round. Knight and Wilson could have turned into Seattle's starters at inside linebacker for the foreseeable future and been very good. Perhaps the new version, though not quite at the same level, of Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright.

Seattle might now need to find the money to keep Ernest Jones, who might want $5 million or more a season in his new deal. He is a free agent after this season. Wilson would have been the cheaper option based on where he was drafted. Seattle could also let Jones walk in free agency, which would probably be a mistake, and draft an inside linebacker in the first three rounds. That player might not turn out to be as good as Wilson will probably be.

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