Getty

Former Bison quarterback Carson Wentz and Cole Payton have connected.

Cole Payton and Carson Wentz share another major football connection besides having played for North Dakota State and being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Payton talked about with the Philadelphia media before the rookie minicamp last weekend. The Eagles took Payton with a fifth-round pick in the draft this year after a successful senior season for the Bison.

Wentz played for the Bison from 2011 to 2015 before the Eagles took him with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft. He helped the Eagles during the 2017 Super Bowl season before his career became that of a journeyman backup.

“So, obviously, we didn’t cross paths at [North Dakota State], but Carson’s a great dude, and I got to chat with him a little bit,” Payton told reporters on April 30. “We’re actually with the same agency, so when I was down training in southern California, he was down there for a little bit [too].”

“Yeah, he’s just a great dude, tough football player, and I’m excited to follow in his footsteps for sure,” Payton added.

Wentz has endured his ups and downs as an NFL quarterback teams have utilized him as a backup. That includes being part of the Kansas Chiefs’ Super Bowl team in 2024, and he’s going into his second year as part of the Minnesota Vikings‘ quarterback room.

Payton could crack the Eagles’ 53-man roster as one of the backup quarterbacks behind Jalen Hurts this year.

Cole Payton the 6th QB Getting NFL Shot Since 2011

Peyton became the fifth quarterback from NDSU to be drafted since 2016, as the Bison tied with Alabama and Ohio State for the most quarterbacks in that span.

Before the current run of NFL draft picks, the Bison first got the NFL’s attention with quarterback Brock Jensen in 2014. The former Bison star led the team to the first three FCS championships from 2011 to 2013.

Jensen competed in camp for the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent but didn’t make the team. He opted for the CFL instead with the Ottawa Red Blacks.

Jensen played in four games for the Red Blacks in 2016 with 330 yards on 29-43 passing for two touchdowns. He also rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The Red Blacks won the Grey Cup that season.

At NDSU, Jensen compiled a 47-5 record in four years as a starter, and he completed 62.5% of his passes for 8,598 yards and 72 touchdowns versus 21 interceptions. Jensen led the Bison to the FCS playoffs for the first time in 2010, where Eastern Washington cut the team’s run short in an overtime quarterfinal loss.

Cole Payton Still Drawing Taysom Hill Comparisons

Payton’s time being featured on running plays for NDSU is following him to the NFL thus far.

He has received Taysom Hill comparisons frequently this year, though Payton is adamant that he sees his trajectory as different from Hill’s. The longtime New Orleans Saints backup quarterback has featured his athleticism as a pass catcher and a rusher over the years.

“Let’s all take a deep breath before we put Cole Payton in Canton. Yes, he’ll make the 53. Yes, he has incredible athleticism that could help him get on the field in some capacity as a rookie, maybe,” Philly Voice writer Geoff Mosher pointed out. “But there’s a reason his comp is Taysom Hill and not other actual athletic starting QBs.”

“He’s very unrefined and needs a lot of work on his technique, carriage point and footwork,” Mosher added. “As noted previously, plenty of NFL teams wondered if he would fare better at an entirely different position.”

That said, Payton worked on his game as a backup at NDSU and made the most of his lone season as a starter in 2025 just to become a serious draft prospect.