Eagles Draft NDSU QB Cole Payton in Fifth Round

The Philadelphia Eagles selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton with the 178th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, continuing the team's interest in versatile signal-callers from the FCS program.

Payton, a 23-year-old left-handed dual-threat quarterback standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 232 pounds, joins a crowded Eagles quarterback room that includes starter Jalen Hurts, veteran backup Andy Dalton and third-stringer Tanner McKee. General Manager Howie Roseman emphasized that the selection focused on adding depth rather than displacing current players. "We feel really good about the other three quarterbacks that are here. We plan to have them here," Roseman said. "This was about staying true to the process we were going into, taking the best player available, obviously at an important position."

In his lone season as a starter in 2025, Payton led North Dakota State to a 12-1 record and a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship. He completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, while rushing for 777 yards and 13 scores on 136 carries. Over his five-year college career, he accumulated 1,919...