The Philadelphia Eagles have a new QB.
The Philadelphia Eagles have drafted QB Cole Payton.
Payton is from NDSU.
Here are some details about Payton: Second-team Associated Press FCS All-American. Second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference. Led the FCS in passing efficiency (193.84), yards per attempt (12.1) and yards per completion (16.9); ranked second in completion rate (71.9%, 161-224, 16 TDs, 4 INTs). Started all 13 games (136-777-5.7, 13 TDs rushing).
"Payton is a dual-threat, single-season FCS starter with good size," Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote. "He’s a lefty with shoddy mechanics and subpar arm talent, but he still manages to deliver throws with touch to all three levels. He lacks drive velocity to dot throws into tight windows and might not have the timing needed to outfox pro zone defenders, though. He’s not shifty but excels when short yardage is needed and has build-up speed for explosive runs once he gets rolling. Payton projects as a QB3 and will require packaged plays to take advantage of his rushing ability until he proves himself a functional pocket passer."
Payton will join Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton in the Eagles' QB room.
The Eagles won the NFC East again last season. However, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2026 playoffs' wild-card round.
Hurts finished the 2025 season with 3,224 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He completed 64.8% of his passes.
The Eagles signed Hurts to a five-year, $255 million extension in April 2023. There is little guaranteed money left in Hurts' deal after the 2026 season.
Hurts, McKee, Dalton and Payton will be coached by Sean Mannion next season. Philadelphia hired the Green Bay Packers QB coach as its new OC after parting ways with Kevin Patullo.
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