The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Apr. 25 that they have drafted quarterback Cole Payton from North Dakota State with the 178th overall pick.
This move adds depth to the Eagles’ quarterback group, which already includes Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton. The selection of Payton comes as the team continues to strengthen its roster for the upcoming season.
Payton played five years at North Dakota State and started in his final season. He threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns last year while also rushing for 777 yards and scoring 13 times on the ground. He was named an Honorable Mention All-American and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, often referred to as the FCS Heisman Trophy. His efforts helped lead his team to a 12-1 record and secure the top seed in the FCS playoffs.
“I’m just so excited to get to Philly and learn from a great room of quarterbacks and some great offensive minds and a great coaching staff that I’m excited to get to know better and just learn and grow. I think with my hard work and ability to want to improve every single day, I think it’ll work itself out,” Payton said.
Head Coach Nick Sirianni described Payton’s skills by saying: “Really good with the ball in his hands in the quarterback run game. Made great decisions with the football, accurate passer. … But there’s some wild plays on his tape that are really impressive. I mean, I think I charted, like, four times he jumped over somebody or wrote down a bunch of times he’s the best athlete on the field. Big, strong, really excited about him.”
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