Much has been made of the Philadelphia Eagles' selection of North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Naturally, his arrival has raised questions about what comes next.
Was Payton brought in to be the eventual successor to backup Tanner McKee? Is this year's 178th overall pick the long-term replacement for franchise signal-caller Jalen Hurts? Time will tell.
But what if there's another option behind Door No. 3? The Philly Voice's Geoff Mosher pondered whether the Eagles will explore different ways to get Payton involved, regardless of Hurts and McKee's presences.
An unnamed personnel executive reportedly wondered if Payton is a pro-level passer. The southpaw was asked to participate in non-quarterback drills at his Pro Day, but declined. However, his physical tools piqued the interest of clubs across the league, as Mosher highlighted.
"Clearly, some NFL teams were curious if Payton's athleticism would translate into another position — tight end, perhaps? — or in a role less conventional," Mosher wrote.
Eagles insider suggests Cole Payton could change positions in NFL
Payton's blend of size, speed and explosiveness is tantalizing, especially for an Eagles squad that isn't afraid to go against the grain. His profile is comparable to that of veteran free agent Taysom Hill, who's made a near-decade-long career out of being a Swiss Army knife.
"That's where the Taysom Hill comparisons come from, and perhaps the Eagles, who always like to experiment offensively, have the same thought in mind — using Payton as a bigger, stronger (although not faster) version of Hill, who actually clocked a 4.44 [40-yard dash] coming out of BYU," Mosher said.
Hill has proven he belongs at the next level, just not as a traditional under-center option. His jack-of-all-trades skill set has made him an "impactful gadget for several seasons," Mosher explained. This may be Payton's path to relevancy with the Eagles, assuming Hurts isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
At the very least, Payton can potentially function as the Eagles' "'Tush Push' weapon,'" per Mosher. Taking that taxing responsibility off Hurts' shoulders is a win in itself. Anything else is just icing on the cake.
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Across five collegiate campaigns (52 games), Payton ran for 1,918 yards and 31 touchdowns on 287 attempts. He only caught two passes for five scoreless yards, though.
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