Eagles take developmental QB prospect in NFL draft: Cole Payton profile

Yahoo Sports3h ago15 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback Cole Payton with the 178th pick in the NFL draft. Payton, a left-handed player from North Dakota State, completed 72% of his passes and scored 16 touchdowns in his starting season.

Key points

Eagles drafted Cole Payton with the 178th overall pick
Payton completed 72% of his passes in college
He threw 16 touchdowns and rushed for 13 touchdowns
Payton was a finalist for the Walter Payton award
He is compared to Taysom Hill by Mel Kiper Jr.

Cole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesNFL draftWalter Payton award

The Philadelphia Eagles went back to the North Dakota State well for a quarterback 10 years after they took Carson Wentz No. 2 overall in 2016.

With the 38th pick of the fifth round (No. 178 overall), the Eagles drafted Cole Payton. The southpaw – Philadelphia loves a lefty like Rocky Balboa – signal-caller completed 72 percent of his passes during his one season as a starter. He threw 16 touchdowns (four interceptions) and averaged 5.7 yards per carry on 136 attempts (29 carries of more than 10 yards) to go with 13 rushing touchdowns.

The Bison went 12-1 and Payton was a finalist for the Walter Payton award, given to the top player in FCS.

Payton, 6-3 and 230 pounds, was the sixth quarterback taken of the draft. But ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. predicted he won’t merely be a backup quarterback for Philadelphia.

“This kid can be Taysom Hill,” said Kiper, who guessed the Eagles will create a package of plays specifically for Payton.

“You got to love what Howie Roseman does and what they do in the draft,” Kiper added.

The Omaha, Nebraska, native is accustomed to waiting his turn. He served as the Bisons’ backup for four seasons before starting for one year as a fifth-year senior.

With a solid arm, Payton’s ball possesses a nice touch and his mobility is his calling card. He was voted the top quarterback during two days of Senior Bowl week.

Eagles QB depth chart: What pick means for Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ Super Bowl MVP starting quarterback, unseated Wentz as a rookie and second-round pick. Payton is more of a developmental project, but he is joining a crowded Eagles quarterback room.

Philadelphia traded for veteran Andy Dalton this offseason and Tanner McKee – trade rumors will certainly intensify around him now – is also on the roster already.

Jalen Hurts
Andy Dalton
Tanner McKee
Cole Payton

Of all the quarterbacks on Philadelphia’s roster, though, Payton mirrors Hurts’ skill set the most.

Q&A

Who is Cole Payton and what are his stats?

Cole Payton is a quarterback from North Dakota State who completed 72% of his passes, threw 16 touchdowns, and averaged 5.7 yards per carry with 13 rushing touchdowns.

What pick did the Eagles use to draft Cole Payton?

The Eagles drafted Cole Payton with the 38th pick of the fifth round, which is the 178th overall pick in the NFL draft.

How does Cole Payton compare to Taysom Hill?

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. suggested that Cole Payton could be utilized similarly to Taysom Hill, indicating the Eagles might create specific plays for him.

What was Cole Payton's college record?

During his season as a starter, Cole Payton led the North Dakota State Bison to a 12-1 record and was a finalist for the Walter Payton award.