Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Kansas State Safety VJ Payne

The Lions may look to add a healthy safety in the upcoming draft to bolster a position that suffered season-ending injuries to Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. A mid-late round option is VJ Payne who looks to be medically clean.

Here is the excerpt from my medical report on VJ Payne:

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

VJ Payne, S (22) - Kansas State

Projected round 4-6. Jeff Risdon mocked to Lions in 4th round. Ran 4.40 40-yard dash at combine.

Concern level 0/10

• 2025: 12/12 games
• 2024: 13/13 games
• 2023: 13/13 games
• 2022: 14/14 games

Payne has a 100% track record of availability and appears to be medically clean. His age is good as well, which makes him a very low-risk prospect.

Payne finished with 4 INT and 10 PBU in his career.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Kansas State Safety VJ Payne