All articles tagged with #cole payton
The Eagles drafted fifth-round QB Cole Payton from North Dakota State and may try to get him on the field this season. Sirianni praised Payton’s athleticism, decision-making and accuracy (72% completion, 16 TDs, 4 INT as a starter), and Howie Roseman said the team could keep four quarterbacks as Payton learns the playbook in rookie minicamp.
North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, continuing a decade-long streak of Bison QBs going to the NFL. Payton threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns with 777 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns as a 13-game starter for NDSU in 2025, impressed at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, and drew interest from several teams before landing with Philadelphia, where he’ll join a QB room led by Jalen Hurts.
Philadelphia selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in the fifth round (No. 178), adding a dual-threat option to a QB room that already includes Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. Payton started 13 games in 2025, throwing for 2,719 yards with 16 TDs and 4 INTs on 72% completions and rushing for 777 yards and 13 TDs, while setting school records for total offense per game and yards per play; some scouts viewed him as a potential tight-end convert or a Taysom Hill‑like project.
Philadelphia selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton with the 178th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Payton, a 6'3", 232-pound lefty, threw 2,719 yards with 16 TDs and 4 INTs on 161-of-224 passing in his one starting season and added 777 rushing yards with 13 TDs on 136 carries. Seen as a developmental prospect behind Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton, he could be redshirted, push for a camp spot, or potentially fill a Taysom Hill–like role; the pick could also affect McKee’s trade odds.
Mel Kiper Jr. highlights three Steelers-linked sleepers — Cole Payton, Zachariah Branch, and Kyle Louis — who have ties to Pittsburgh ahead of the draft: Payton (NDSU QB) could be a developmental fourth-round asset in a Hill-like role, Branch (Georgia WR) offers strong YAC upside and is viewed as a second-round possibility, and Louis (Pitt LB) is a versatile defender projected in the second or third round.
Detroit Lions’ Combine takeaway centers on three QB prospects—Cole Payton (North Dakota State), Taylen Green (Arkansas), and Haynes King (Georgia Tech)—as potential depth options, with Mendoza not participating and Simpson/Nussmeier showing solid showings elsewhere. Payton displays accuracy on short/intermediate routes but limited deep arm; Green boasts elite athleticism yet inconsistent footwork and mechanics; King brings rushing upside and could fit a Taysom Hill–style role, though his passing polish is lacking. Lions may pursue these players as draft selections or undrafted free agents.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer outlines a wide slate of NFL Combine contenders, led by Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq as a potential athletic outlier and featuring standout linebackers, receivers, and linemen who could post eye-opening numbers; the piece notes that many players may skip testing, and there is only one quarterback mentioned—North Dakota State’s Cole Payton—in a class otherwise lacking marquee quarterback headlines.