The Philadelphia Eagles didn't draft Cole Payton to be a wallflower. Selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the quarterback out of North Dakota State has already sparked plenty of speculation about his role—and it might not be the one you'd expect.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. sees a future for Payton that goes far beyond clipboard duty. Kiper gave the Eagles an 'A' for their draft weekend and offered a fascinating comparison: Taysom Hill. That's right—the same versatile New Orleans Saints weapon who lines up at quarterback, tight end, and special teams, keeping defenses guessing every snap.
"Cole Payton probably won't beat out Tanner McKee or Andy Dalton for QB2 behind Jalen Hurts," Kiper said. "But he ran for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. I think Sean Mannion could use him in some packages. Payton runs a 4.56 at 232 pounds, so I'm envisioning some sort of Taysom Hill role in Philadelphia. As a passer, he's very accurate despite a long delivery."
That's where the intrigue begins. On paper, Payton enters a crowded quarterback room behind Jalen Hurts. The path to a traditional backup role isn't immediate—but that may not be Philadelphia's plan anyway. At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, with that 4.5 speed, Payton brings a rare blend of size and athleticism that opens the door to creative usage. His production for the Bison, both as a passer and runner, shows he's comfortable operating outside the pocket and making plays on the move.
This versatility matters in today's NFL. Offenses are constantly searching for ways to create mismatches and stress defenses. Players who can line up in multiple spots and execute quickly become invaluable. Under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, the Eagles are expected to evolve—and Payton could be part of that evolution. Think short-yardage packages, red-zone wrinkles, designed quarterback runs, and gadget plays that force defenses to account for an extra variable. For a team that loves to keep opponents off-balance, Payton might just be the perfect chess piece.