2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: VJ Payne, S, Kansas State

It is never too early to evaluate safety depth for the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Jason Licht values physical, reliable defensive backs who can handle multiple responsibilities in a defensive scheme, and Todd Bowles’ defensive structure demands safeties who can communicate, tackle, and rotate seamlessly across alignments. With sub-package football continuing to dominate the league, having a steady presence on the back end who can play downhill and hold up in coverage is critical.

Tampa Bay may not need an immediate starter, but adding depth with experience and consistency is always part of the long-term plan of any winning franchise. We are working through each position group this cycle. With that in mind, here is our report on Kansas State safety VJ Payne.

Information School: Kansas State Conference: Big 12 Position: Safety Height Weight: 6-3, 210 pounds Class: Senior Age: 22 Hometown: Gainesville, Georgia Background Payne leaves Kansas State as one of the more experienced defensive backs in this class, appearing in 52 career games and starting 42, including 41 consecutive starts to close out his career. He stepped into a starting role early as a true freshman and never looked back, developing into a steady presence on the back end. By his senior season in 2025, Payne served as a team captain and continued to produce at a consistent level, finishing with 59 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 4 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles.

His 2024 season was similarly productive, totaling 64 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups while playing a significant snap share. Across multiple seasons, Payne consistently showed up as a reliable tackler and communicator in the secondary, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors twice. Notable Stats from 2025 722 total snaps 374 coverage snaps 73.