Most NFL draft picks can rest assured that they will be on an NFL roster in Week 1 of their rookie season.

For seventh-round picks, though, it’s a much different story. Despite getting drafted, many of them have to prove their worth in the summer to make it onto a 53-man roster.

That may be the case for New York Jets rookie VJ Payne, the 228th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Payne enters a crowded Jets safety room, featuring veterans Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, and Andre Cisco, along with 2025 fourth-round pick Malachi Moore, who showed promise in his debut season. There’s also 2025 undrafted free agent pickup Dean Clark, who played in 12 games and contributed on special teams.

A product of Kansas State, Payne was viewed as a steal by many pundits. Some analysts, including Dane Brugler of The Athletic and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, had Payne with a round 4-5 grade. Instead, the Jets scooped him up on late Day 3.

So, what does the former Wildcat bring to the Jets’ defense and special teams? What are his chances of making the 53-man roster? Where can he contribute right away, and what are the weaknesses that dropped him to the seventh round?

In the latest edition of Blewett’s Blitz, we answer all of those questions and more in a full-fledged breakdown of Payne’s All-22 film.

Below is the full VJ Payne film review and scouting report (strengths and weaknesses).

Strengths:

  • Size (6’3, 208 pounds, 33 inch arms and 80 inch wingspan)
  • Speed (4.40 40 time)
  • Patient in off coverage
  • Willing to throw body around
  • Big hitter
  • Controlled in backpedal
  • Stays square in off coverage
  • Can hold up vs. blocks (at times)
  • Solid range
  • Reads QB well
  • Plays the ball well
  • Versatility to play in box, high or man coverage
  • Breaks from deep well
  • Leverages well over routes/concepts from deep
  • Good man reps vs. TEs showed up

Weaknesses:

  • Tackling in general
  • Needs to wrap up as tackler
  • Can be late to gather in run game
  • Leaves feet as tackler
  • Can take bad angles as tackler
  • Arm tackler
  • Can be flat footed in off coverage
  • Can lose RB in traffic
  • Multiple dropped INTs
  • Can get grabby in coverage
  • Needs to stack blocks with hands tighter
  • Diagnosing in run game
  • Transitions and change of direction
  • Block shedding is inconsistent
  • Can struggle to match breaks because of build
  • Can get caught up in eye candy