VJ Payne

● Rare height, arm length and wingspan, with decent bulk throughout ● Smooth mover in space to open his hips, range off the hash or mirror near the line ● Patient in off coverage to stay connected with tight ends at top of the route ● Judiciously uses length for timely swipes/punches at the catch point (or just after) ● Wide-based tackler — uses his long arms to hug and pile-drive ball carriers ● Able to swerve around bodies in the box ● Coaches say he “wants to be great” and is willing to work for it ● Plays through bumps and bruises — finished career with 41 straight starts

● High cut and struggles to stay low when taking on blocks or tackling ● Relies more on initial pop than finishing strength as a tackler ● Hints of stiffness show in lower half when unfurling his long legs ● Not always subtle using his length in coverage (pass-interference penalties against Iowa State and Baylor in 2025) ● Can do better job positioning frame to avoid having to go through pass catchers ● Below-average ball production for a player with 42 college starts ● Doesn’t have expansive special teams resume

A starter for three-and-a-half years at Kansas State, Payne played free safety, strong safety and big nickel in former defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman’s scheme. He posted consistent production the past three seasons and earned All-Big 12 honors as both a junior and senior. Payne offers a rare combination of rangy size and long-striding speed to make plays near the line or at the sideline. He is at his best as a matchup player against big, dynamic tight ends, using his nimble quickness and body length to influence the catch point. Despite his starting experience, he is still a tad green and can be more reactive than proactive keying run/pass or reading routes. He is a physical tackler but often guilty of stopping his feet instead of running through his target. Overall, Payne has the skill set of an 591 Back to table of contents -- 595 of 629 -- interchangeable defensive back, although he projects best as a boundary safety who can play physical football and overlap short zones. He profiles similarly to JL Skinner of the Denver Broncos.