|
|
|
Howie Rosemans philosophy of stacking NFL-caliber quarterbacks has continued this offseason. Despite having a former Super Bowl MVP and bona fide starter in Jalen Hurts, the earlier this offseason acquired veteran Andy Dalton from the , who slots in as a potential QB2 alongside Tanner McKee. But at the 2026 NFL Draft, Roseman struck again. In the fifth round, the Eagles selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton, who isnt just a left-handed pa ser hes one of the more dynamic athletes and rushers in the cla s. Heres what to know about Payton as he joins Hurts, Dalton, and McKee in Philadelphias quarterback room. SN's NFL DRAFT HQ: | | Who is Cole Payton? Cole Payton is a five-year North Dakota State quarterback who got just one year as the Bisons starter but excelled in that role last season. As a member of an FCS powerhouse which will soon be upgraded to FBS in the Mountain West Payton was a backup as NDSU won multiple national titles, then became an efficient two-way star in 2025. The native of Omaha, Neb., showed prowe s as both a pa ser and rusher, although his NFL upside has primarily come from the athleticism he showed on the ground. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds, Payton moved onto the NFL radar last season and winds up as the No. 5 quarterback off the board in the 2026 draft. 61 yards. To. The. House. Cole Payton is electric. NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) MORE: Cole Payton college stats Payton's lone season as a college starter came in 2025, but his numbers were impre sive against FCS defenses. Here's a look at his stats: Season Completions-Attempts (%) Pa sing Yards Pa sing TDs INTs AVG Rating Sacks Carries Rushing Yards Rushing TDs 2021 1-3 (33.0%) 6 0 Kevin Stevens Jersey 0 2.0 50.1 0 8 78 2 2022 8-12 (66.7%) 51 0 1 4.3 85.7 0 38 284 2 2023 18-27 (66.7%) 289 3 0 10.7 193.2 5 84 615 13 2024 10-16 (62.5%) 125 2 1 7.8 156.9 1 21 165 1 2025 162-225 (72.0%) 2,719 16 4 12.1 193.4 22 136 777 13 Career: 199-283 (70.3%) 3,190 21 6 11.3 185.3 28 287 1,919 31 MORE: Cole Payton scouting report Payton is a dual-threat quarterback, bringing solid size to the NFL with good touch on his throws. The pros with him mostly surround his athleticism as a playmaker and rusher, he can bring explosivene s to an offense. The pa sing remains a work in progre s despite good numbers at NDSU, with questionable mechanics and without a very big arm. Payton should be able to make the simple throws in an NFL offense, but hes not considered a quarterback who can consistently fit the ball into tight windows or fully manage an offense as a pocket pa ser. Hes capable of throwing on the move when hes not running himself. Given his strengths, many fans and analysts have thrown out the Taysom Hill comparison the do-it-all weapon who has a quarterback background but has also lined up at receiver and running back thanks to his athleticism. Whether the Eagles would try to get Payton reps at tight end or elsewhere is doubtful for now, but he can certainly be used in unique package plays tailored to his speed and ability to move with the ball while remaining a pa sing threat. The Eagles also took Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, who has past experience as a quarterback. Should Payton remain on the Eagles 2026 roster, Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will have a potential weapon at their disposal in the quarterback room. Cole Payton has some of the most intriguing physical tools of any QB in the 2026 NFL Draft NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) MORE: Eagles QB depth chart Rank Player 1 Jalen Hurts 2A Andy Dalton 2B Tanner McKee 4 Cole Payton As things stand, the Eagles have a quarterback logjam behind Hurts, who will remain the team's starter as long as he's healthy. Philadelphia traded a 2027 seventh-round pick for Dalton, which isn't elite draft compensation, but also signals that Roseman and Sirianni see value him the former star being a backup behind Hurts. However, the Eagles have long praised McKee, a homegrown quarterback who has developed into the QB2 role and flashed arm talent previously. Trade rumors have followed McKee, who could get an NFL starting opportunity at some point, but the Eagles have still held onto him until this point. Payton, one way or another, is unlikely to become the direct backup to Hurts anytime soon. It's also no guarantee he remains with the Eagles the team drafted Kyle McCord in the sixth round last year, then waived him ahead of the regular season. Some kind of subtraction from the Eagles' quarterback room appears likely before Week 1 of the 2026 season, but they have added an interesting mix of talent behind Hurts. MORE: Anthony Beauvillier Jersey |
|
发表于