Even before the 2026 NFL Draft, many mock drafts had the Philadelphia Eagles taking North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton, and that ended up being the case in real life, as he went in the fifth round.
The Eagles seemed to be massive fans of Payton's upside potential that he brings to the table with the team, but how he was selected was even better to watch on video. Behind-the-scenes footage was released by the team as they showed how Eagles scout Duke Tobin Jr. had labeled Payton as a "Red Star Player," a player who is everything the franchise wants out of a player that would represent the Eagles the right way.
“He’s the toughest player on the team," Tobin said in the footage. "This guy is wired like an Eagle.”
Cole Payton had one Eagles scout go to bat for him before his selection
Payton had 2,719 passing yards and 16 touchdowns to four interceptions while rushing for another 777 yards and scoring 13 additional touchdowns. He was a second-team All-MVFC selection last season with the Bison.
Not only was Payton a winner on the field and a solid passer, but his skill set is hard to find in today's NFL. The Eagles are expected to use him in so many different packages on offense, as he could end up being the next Taysom Hill. Payton could be lining up as a quarterback, running back (which he started a game in college as one), wide receiver, or tight end.
Everyone loves to see the potential he has as a weapon on offense, but many experts even think that Payton might eventually replace Jalen Hurts as the Eagles' starting quarterback. Payton's athletic ability and a year or two behind Hurts might be enough time for him to learn how to be a starting quarterback in the NFL and take over.
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Eagles fans are far from seeing that become a reality, but Payton's potential makes him a fun prospect for the franchise.
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