My Article
Background information
Victor "V.J." Payne was born in Gainesville, Georgia on March 4th 2002 and later went to Buford High School for high school. At Buford, Payne was an elite track athlete as he medalled in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles at the state championships. He was also a hard-hitting linebacker who helped lead the Wolves to three consecutive Class 6A state titles. As a highly-touted recruit in the 2022 class, he committed to Kansas State where he transitioned from a linebacker to a safety. From his freshman season and onward, Payne proved to be a valuable player for the Wildcats. Serving as a team captain and earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors, he finished his collegiate career with a remarkable streak of 41 consecutive starts, racking up 180 total tackles and four interceptions before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. He was then selected 228th overall in the 7th round by the New York Jets.
Why I think he will have a good career
Payne is landing in a highly favorable environment. He will be developing under Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn, a former Pro Bowl NFL defensive back with a proven track record of developing secondary talent. and if not secondary than just defense entirely, that's what Google said, alright? Furthermore, he joins a safety room featuring newly acquired All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick, which they acquired for just a 7th round pick giving Payne an elite veteran to learn from on day one.
Payne was a championship winning linebacker at Buford High School in Georgia(as you saw in the background information) before moving to the secondary in college. And with his unique blend of being 6'3" and running a 4.40 speed from the 2026 draft combine, allows him to play man coverage on massive NFL tight ends while also possessing the footwork to line up against shiftier receivers.
Advanced metrics favor him heavily. In his 2025 season, PFF gave him a 73.3 overall grade. When targeted by opposing quarterbacks, he held them to a low 57.4 passer rating. And slightly off topic but he has a high football IQ and a good locker room presence.
Now in case all of this hasn't convinced you for whatever reason, if its because he is jet and nobody trusts them(nah jk) well, For late-round draft picks, the clearest path to making the 53-man roster and earning the coaching staffs trust is through special teams. NFL legends like Matthew Slater, Steve Tasker, and Devin Hester have made NFL rosters through special teams. Payne is exceptionally good at this. As he can outrun blockers and possesses the tackling form of a former linebacker to bring down returners in the open field. Not only that but Jets special teams coordinator Chris Banjo (a former NFL safety himself) is known for utilizing fast, aggressive defensive backs in his coverage units. Payne fits this mold perfectly and because of this I believe he should see the field immediately.
Also athleticism only gets you so far in the NFL and you have to know where to be. Payne’s mental processing is a major benefit to his game. Because he played linebacker in high school(I'm sorry ill stop mentioning how he was a LB in high school 😭😭) for a powerhouse program, Buford HS in Georgia, his understanding of run fits is far more advanced than that of a typical safety. And understands exactly which gaps to fill on running downs, diagnosing plays quickly and stepping up to deliver punishment in the box rather than reacting late from the deep third of the field.
Finally with all of this, Payne isn’t just gonna be a one-year wonder he has a documented history of steady improvement against elite competition. He was thrown into the fire early, playing in all 14 games as a true freshman in 2022 and starting in both the Big 12 Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl. By 2024, he was earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and his consistent high level play earned him an invitation to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. He has shown he can handle the pressure of big stages and continuously elevate his game.
In conclusion I think V.J. Payne is going to have a great NFL career, now is this Kansas State bias? yeah 1,000,000% what'd you expect. But I really think he will do good also credits to Corey because he had a different idea and I changed this up a little bit but just to show his points this also proves how he is a steal.
Alright let's see how all this ages, if he turns into a practice squad guy who it out of the league by the next year I'm crashing out.
you thought that was it? nah I'm jk but here is a
AI Article
The 2026 NFL Draft’s Biggest Steal: Why the Colts Struck Gold with Deion Burks
While every NFL franchise claims they found the ultimate steal in the later rounds, the Indianapolis Colts actually pulled it off. By selecting Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks in the seventh round (254th overall), the Colts secured a player with genuine Day 2 or early Day 3 upside at the absolute tail end of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here is the background information and structural breakdown for your article on why Burks is the undisputed steal of the class.
I. Player Profile & The Basics
Full Name: Deion Burks
Position: Wide Receiver
College: Oklahoma (transferred from Purdue)
Draft Status: 2026 NFL Draft — 7th Round, 254th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts
II. Elite Combine Measurables Burks’ slide to the seventh round is baffling when you evaluate his pre-draft athletic testing. He brings top-tier, game-breaking athleticism that simply shouldn't be available that late in the draft.
Track-Star Speed: He registered a blazing 4.30-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, making him the third-fastest receiver in his entire draft class.
Explosive Power: He posted a massive 42.5-inch vertical jump (the absolute best in his position group) and ranked fourth overall in the broad jump.
Deceptive Strength: Despite his speed-oriented profile, Burks put up the most bench press reps of any wideout at the Combine, proving he has the physical density and toughness to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage.
III. Tactical Fit with the Colts' Offense To be a true draft steal, a late-round player needs an immediate pathway to see the field. Burks is entering an offensive ecosystem tailor-made for his specific skill set.
Outside Versatility: While he has the physical dimensions of a traditional slot receiver, his college tape tells a different story. At both Purdue and Oklahoma, he was primarily deployed as a "Z" receiver on the outside. His play strength and deep-ball tracking allow him to win vertically down the boundary.
Optimizing the Depth Chart: Under head coach Shane Steichen, the Colts want to maximize their three-receiver sets. With Alec Pierce operating as the "X" receiver and Josh Downs thriving in the slot, Burks will have an immediate opportunity to compete in training camp against veterans like Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for outside reps.
IV. The Verdict: Low Risk, Astronomical Reward Draft slides happen every year—often due to deep positional classes or subjective scheme grades—but letting a player with Burks' explosive athletic profile fall to pick 254 is a collective misstep by the rest of the league. The Colts essentially acquired a premium deep threat for virtually zero draft capital. In a modern NFL that constantly hunts for explosive playmakers, Indianapolis didn't have to reach; they just waited patiently and let the steal of the draft fall right into their laps.
Who wrote the better article?
Who will have a better career, V.J. Payne or Deion Burks?
btw I didn't even read the ai part so yeah lol
please like and flame and that's it.