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Cole Payton could become the starter in Philadelphia one day.

Former North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton could do more than anticipated as a fifth-round draft pick.

The second former NDSU quarterback taken by the Philadelphia Eagles has serious potential, an NFL executive told NFL insider J.L. Canfora recently. And there’s precedent for it in the history of the Eagles organization.

While former Bison quarterback Carson Wentz, a No. 2 pick in 2016, got supplanted by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. The reverse could happen in the coming years with Payton and Hurts, as the NFL executive explained to Canfora.

“You know I believe in that kid,” the executive told Confora. “That was my No. 2 quarterback in the draft. And Howie [Roseman] takes him? Come on. He sees it too. Cole Payton, if you bring him along the right way, can start in this league.”

Roseman played a big role in drafting Wentz in 2016. In addition, the longtime Eagles president has been through the quarterback carousel in Philadelphia over the years, and that could impact the situation today.

“All the stuff you hear about Hurts, all the drama and where he is in his contract. You can call me crazy, but I think this kid could take over from him in a few years,” the executive told Confora. “They did this stuff before with [Kevin] Kolb, when they still had [Donovan] McNabb. I know how Howie thinks. This kid had a chance.”

Cole Payton Found a Niche Amid Wait at NDSU

Payton came to NDSU as a relatively highly-touted FCS quarterback prospect from Omaha in 2021.

With his raw, physical talent, Payton was expected to join the lineage of successful Bison quarterbacks since the FCS dynasty began in 2011. That said, Payton ended up sitting as former Bison quarterback Cam Miller kept building a legacy in Fargo.

Miller beat out former Bison quarterback and Virginia Tech transfer Quincy Patterson II, a talented dual-threat quarterback, who joined the Bison in 2021. With Miller’s success after Patterson’s shoulder injury in 2021, Miller locked down the starting job the rest of the season and won a national title.

Patterson left NDSU for Temple after the season, and Miller stayed cemented as the starter through 2024 before he entered the NFL draft. NDSU still utilized Patterson in run packages when he came back from injury, so Payton sliding into the role made sense in 2022 and beyond.

Payton matched and exceeded what Patterson did as a running threat. He rushed for 284 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries in 2022, and his role increased in 2023 with 615 yards and 13 touchdowns on 84 carries in 2023.

Cole Payton Bounced Back For Big Opportunity

Payton looked poised to do more of the same with his legs in 2024, but a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely, and he only rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries that year.

His opportunity as a starter arrived in 2025 after Miller joined the Las Vegas Raiders as a sixth-round draft pick. Payton led the Bison to a perfect regular season, 12-0, as he completed 70% of his passes for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns versus four interceptions. He also rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns on 136 carries.