NDSU QB Cole Payton Selected 178th Overall by Philadelphia Eagles at 2026 NFL Draft

TL;DR

Cole Payton, quarterback from North Dakota State, was selected 178th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is the fifth NDSU quarterback drafted in the last decade and is expected to compete for a backup role behind Jalen Hurts.

Key points

Cole Payton selected 178th overall by Philadelphia Eagles
Fifth NDSU quarterback drafted in the last decade
Completed over 71% of passes in 2025
Accounted for 3,642 all-purpose yards and 29 touchdowns
Expected to compete for backup role behind Jalen Hurts

Cole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesNorth Dakota StateJalen Hurts

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 31: Quarterback Cole Payton #9 of North Dakota State from the American Team on a pass play during the first half of the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 31, 2026 in Mobile, Alabama. The American Team defeated the National Team 17 to 9. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images For the fifth time in the last decade, North Dakota State has seen one of its quarterbacks selected in the NFL Draft. Cole Payton has now joined the rich lineage of Cam Miller (2025), Trey Lance (2021), Easton Stick (2019) and Carson Wentz (2016) as former Bison signal callers to hear their name called. Payton was taken by the Eagles on Saturday afternoon as the 178th overall pick and was the sixth signal caller off the board. After impressing at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine earlier this year, Payton shot up draft boards. With NDSU in 2025 he completed over 71% of his passes and accounted for 3,642 all-purpose yards along with 29 total touchdowns. Payton waited in the wings for a couple years at NDSU before he finally got his starting opportunity last fall. He is a raw athlete that has a tremendous amount of upside as he makes his way to the pros and should be able to compete in the Philly QB room for the spot behind . His dual-threat ability under center will help Payton greatly. His speed and ability to evade defenders on the ground is something that has made him a top signal caller. Payton’s arm is also an asset, though, in both its strength and accuracy. He puts a great amount of zip on the ball and is excellent at throwing his receivers open downfield. Overall Payton should fit into the Eagles system very well but will likely serve as a second or third stringer for a while.

Q&A

What was Cole Payton's overall draft position in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Cole Payton was selected 178th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Which NFL team drafted Cole Payton?

Cole Payton was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

How did Cole Payton perform in college before the NFL Draft?

In 2025, Cole Payton completed over 71% of his passes, accounting for 3,642 all-purpose yards and 29 total touchdowns.