Most Philadelphia Eagles fans saw the team selecting North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft as a way to find their new backup of the future if Tanner McKee gets traded.
It turns out that not everyone feels that way about Payton. NFL insider Jason La Canfora spoke with an NFL executive who believes there are bigger dreams for Payton in the future, including eventually replacing Jalen Hurts.
“You know I believe in that kid,” one longtime personnel executive told Canfora. “That was my No. 2 quarterback in the draft. And Howie takes him? Come on. He sees it too. Cole Payton, if you bring him along the right way, can start in this league. All the stuff you hear about (Eagles starter Jalen) Hurts, all the drama and where he is in his contract. You can call me crazy, but I think this kid could take over from him in a few years. They did this stuff before with (Kevin) Kolb, when they still had (Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan) McNabb. I know how Howie thinks. This kid had a chance.”
Can Cole Payton end up being the Eagles' starter over Jalen Hurts in the future?
Last season at North Dakota State, Payton threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns to four interceptions while adding another 777 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. He was named as a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2025.
Nobody doubts Payton's talent; he is a great runner and can sling the ball around. The athleticism is there, and it's arguably better than any other quarterback in the NFL.
In fact, another executive told Canfora that he also believes that Payton will eventually play in the NFL.
“That’s such a great spot for him to land. He’s better off there in the fifth-round than Arizona in the third, really. I love the fit. I think he can play in the league, but he’s still really raw.”
Hurts is such an accomplished starter in the NFL, having made three Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls (winning one), and been named Super Bowl MVP. It seems hard to believe that people are now looking at Payton as his eventual replacement, but after the ESPN report on Hurts that slammed him as the quarterback last year, it seems like everyone is buying into it now.
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The Eagles are further from a quarterback change than many believe, as Payton needs time to learn to play the position at the NFL level. Could it happen where Payton takes over for Hurts? Sure, but that is still a few years away, and a lot can change in that time, so it's too early to say that the rookie can be a starter in the league.
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