(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a star in the making.

Payton Wilson looked solid in his first year in the NFL, and Patrick Queen said he believes he’s ready to take things to the next level.

“I think Payton got, like, a certain swagger to him that you just know he’s different. Once he learns how to have that confidence fully, he’ll know there’s nobody in this league that can mess with him. The dude, he’s a dog, he’s a competitor, and I know he’s gonna bring it out soon. I definitely think there’s more. I think there’s another level, maybe two levels that he could tap into and just be that guy,” Queen said, via Blitzburgh.

Wilson posted the second-most tackles of any AFC rookie last season, and only three Steelers had more.Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin would love for him to be on the field as an every-down linebacker, just like Queen, and it seems they’re preparing him for that.

Each of them has been wearing signal-calling helmets during training camp, alternating those duties.

That speaks volumes about the level of confidence the staff has in Wilson entering his second season.

He played most of his snaps in the nickel defense as a rookie, taking advantage of his speed and coverage skills.

Now that Elandon Roberts is no longer on the team, Wilson might get more time in the base defense.

He’s one of the fastest linebackers in the league, as he showed at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Steelers can get a lot from his quick reactions.

He’s a work in progress, but he might be next in the long line of elite defenders coached by Mike Tomlin.