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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kansas State S Vj Payne

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Kansas State S VJ Payne.

No. 7 VJ Payne/S Kansas State – 6030, 208 POUNDS (SENIOR)

MEASUREMENTS

Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan

VJ Payne 6030/208 9 1/2″ 33 3/4 N/A

40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone

4.40 1.57 N/A N/A

Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press

10’7″ 35 N/A

THE GOOD

– Tall, long, and athletic frame makes him a unique size nightmare for offenses

– Has the long speed to make up or stay with almost any receiver

– Thrives in split-zone safety roles where he breaks on routes while keeping leverage

– Stays low in his backpedal to stay in phase with receivers

– Able to quickly diagnose plays

– Fluid hips to turn and mirror transitions

– Closes ground with immediacy on guys in coverage with short-area quickness

– Innate ability to “stalk” receivers and tight ends downfield to know when to get his hands in the catch window

– Solid tackling and downhill alignment potential

– Handles contact with balance and leverage to get off blocks

– Ball carriers tend to stop or go backwards when he hits them

– Team captain and four-year starter, he was trusted to make a lot of the communication calls in his junior and senior years for the backend of the defense

– Worked hard to gain almost 30 lbs. of mass and strength in college

– Can play all safety spots and cover guys in the slot

– Has been almost injury-free with a lot of experience

THE BAD

– Still refining block-shedding and leverage techniques

– While he has good coverage skills and gets to the ball, he’s got to come up with more splash plays and production when he gets there

– Doesn’t have elite explosiveness in terms of lateral agility and hip movement to break with sharp cuts

– Can’t overly rely on his speed and length to make up for poor route timing recognition

– Physicality towards run defense situations, taking on bigger blockers; has to be more consistent

– Has to show more aggression as a run defender coming downhill

– Too often takes poor angles in run support

– Will hesitate too often to figure out where runners are going instead of shooting into gaps

– Can be displaced by offensive linemen and strong tight ends in space

– Needs more lower body mass and strength

STATS

– 42 career starts and has played in a total of 52 games in 4 years at Kansas State University

– Career: 2,455 total snaps (1,178 SS, 619 FS, 540 Slot, 41 outside CB)

– 239 special teams snaps (156 FG Block, 42 Punt Return, 33 Kick Coverage, 7 Kick Return, 1 Punt Coverage)

– 57.4 percent completion rate against, 207 total tackles (141 solo), 10.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, 10 PBUs, 4 INTs, 3 TDs allowed, 66.0 passer rating allowed, 9 penalties, 32 missed tackles

– 2025: Started in all 12 games

– 47.2 percent completion rate against, 59 total tackles (40 solo), 3 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 3 PBUs, 1 INT, 1 TD allowed, 57.4 passer rating allowed, 2 penalties, 8 missed tackles

– 74.1 coverage grade per PFF

– 68.7 man coverage grade (39.6 passer rating) and 71.9 zone coverage grade (73.5 passer rating)

– 70.5 run defense grade per PFF

INJURY HISTORY:

– No known injury history

BACKGROUND

– DOB: 3/17/2004 (21 years old)

– Born in Gainesville, GA, and attended Buford H.S.

– 2024 & 2025 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

– First Kansas State defensive back to start as a true freshman since 1988

– Three-star linebacker and safety recruit according to 247Sports

– Won a state championship his senior, junior, and sophomore seasons

– Competed in track and field

– Described by his coaches as having high self-awareness and a focus on constant improvement

– Majored in Kinesiology

TAPE BREAKDOWN

VJ Payne was a highly intelligent, four-year starting safety for the Kansas State Wildcats defense. He has good processing speed, leverage discipline, athleticism, and positional flexibility, not reckless freelancing or elite splash-play production. He was known more so for being a coverage stabilizer, the type of safety who limits explosive plays, communicates adjustments, and allows aggressive front-seven play.

Payne is an above-average coverage defender. He thrives in space, but can also stay in phase with guys in off-man and man coverage as well. He’s especially good at getting his hands in the catch window or popping the ball out of the receiver’s hands.

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