New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: S VJ Payne, Kansas State

VJ Payne, S

Height: 6’3 ¼”
Weight: 206 lbs.
Class: Fourth-year Senior
School: Kansas State
Hands: 9 ½”
Arm Length: 33 ¾”
40-yard-dash: 4.4s
10-yard-split: 1.52s
STATS

VJ Payne was a three-star safety out of powerhouse Buford High School in Buford, Georgia, before enrolling at Kansas State under Joe Klanderman. Payne chose the Wildcats over Michigan, Michigan State, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt.

Payne quickly made an impact at Kansas State, carving out a rotational role as a true freshman that would turn into a starting role late in the year - he would never look back.

In 2025, he would finish third on the team in total tackles with 59, while also having three TFLs that would be the second-most amongst a defensive back.

Dec 26, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas State Wildcats safety VJ Payne (19) against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Strengths

Possesses elite size - 96th percentile height and arm length
Spent significant time playing deep safety, box safety, and in the nickel throughout his college career
Plays with disciplined eyes in zone, rarely taking himself out of position
Has no problem with lining up a pass-catcher and lowering the shoulder
Knows how to use his length when disrupting receivers at the catch point
Is a pest in coverage, constantly nudging and bumping to throw off rhythm and timing
Takes efficient routes to the ball in the air
His speed, paired with eyes, give him the ability to be effective covering the deep parts of the field
Hips are fluid enough to stick with most tight ends in man coverage

Weaknesses

Would assume with how long his arms are, he would be better at fighting through blockers
Seems a bit passive as a tackler. Not the “afraid of contact” kind of passive but the “I don’t want to mess up” kind of passive that becomes a liability there
Not very fluid as an open-field tackler, assuming because it’s difficult for someone as “limby” as him to break down quickly
Bigger blockers will eliminate him from the play
Might need to add some mass to be a more consistent force as a tackler and block shedder

Summary

VJ Payne has elite size and is a plus athlete that doesn’t run as fast as his 4.4 speed suggests in-game, but in coverage, his eyes and length give him that effect.

He should project to be a deep safety from day one in just about any defense, capable of playing single-high or two-high.

In the NFL, operating near the line of scrimmage is more of an issue until he attacks the run more aggressively.

GRADE: 6.0

Nick Falato's Draft Grade Chart | Nick Falato

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