Eagles Rookie QB Cole Payton Could Deliver ‘Wow Plays’ In 2026

BusinessSportsMoneyEagles Rookie QB Cole Payton Could Deliver ‘Wow Plays’ In 2026ByTrevor Woods,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Trevor Woods is a reporter who covers the NFL and college football.Follow AuthorApr 27, 2026, 10:02pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 17: North Dakota State Quarterback Cole Payton (15) scrambles out of the pocket during a college football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the North Dakota State Bison on September 17, 2022, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Eagles added a fourth quarterback to their roster on Saturday, selecting North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Eagles have starting quarterback Jalen Hurts with Tanner McKee and veteran Andy Dalton on the depth chart, but can Payton make a push for backup duties in 2026? It’s possible.Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni Evaluates QB Cole PaytonSpeaking with the media on Sunday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni explained the rationale behind drafting Payton. His dual-threat abilities and penchant for impressive plays caught the eye of the Eagles.“Really, really athletic, really good with the ball in his hands in the quarterback run game, made great decisions with the football, accurate passer — 72 percent last year as a starter, and you can’t be that unless you’re making good, accurate throws and going the right place with the ball,” Sirianni said, per Michael Davis Smith of Pro Football Talk. “There are some wow plays on his tape that are really impressive. I think I charted four times he jumped over somebody. I wrote down, ‘He’s the best athlete on the field.’” Payton, 23, stands 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds and has one year of starting experience at North Dakota State. Payton completed 71.9% of his passes last season for 2,719 yards, with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. Payton also rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns. Payton rushed for 1,918 yards and 31 touchdowns during his college career. MORE FOR YOUPayton’s dual-threat skillset pairs well with Jalen Hurts’ abilities. While Payton’s time with Philadelphia is in its infancy, if Sirianni felt that Payton was the best athlete on the field at times, could he receive playing time as a rookie?“We’ll see how that goes, get him here, get him acclimated here, have a chance next weekend at rookie minicamp learning the playbook, then we’ll see where it goes from here,” Sirianni said.Payton went 12-1 as a starter at North Dakota State and brings Philadelphia a strong arm with accuracy and a physical yet fast running style. Payton ran an impressive 4.56 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, and per NFL Next Gen Stats, Payton’s athleticism score of 80 ranked No. 3 at quarterback for combine participants. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttribute('defer', '1'); script.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); iframeDoc.body.appendChild(script); };…

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