Jets selected Kansas State S VJ Payne with the No. 228 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

25 April 2026

Payne (6’3/206) is a long, explosive strong safety with high-end athletic tools (9.74 RAS) and verified range (4.40s forty, 99th-percentile) that translate to versatile box and split-field usage. He generated 13 havoc plays with 55 tackles (85.9-percentile tackle rate) while adding four interceptions and 7 PBUs, flashing legitimate playmaking ability both downhill and at the catch point. In coverage, Payne allowed 17-of-30 completions (56.7 percent) for 202 yards with 3 TDs, but offset that with a strong 23.3% forced incompletion rate and disruptive length in contested situations. His 0.55 yards per coverage snap and willingness to challenge throws vertically reflect an aggressive, attack-minded safety who can erase space but will surrender occasional explosives. Payne projects as a scheme-versatile strong safety with starter upside in split-safety or big nickel looks, though his high-cut build and inconsistent tackling mechanics create volatility in his finishing.