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Cole Payton could land relatively early in the draft.

North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton awaits his name being called in the NFL Draft soon, and one insider recently revealed where Payton will most likely receive that call.

Dom Izzo of the Fargo Forum and WDAY reported that Todd McShay of The Ringer says “that he believes Payton is a near lock” for going in the second or third round of the draft on Friday. It’s not a total surprise, since Payton’s draft stock moved up this offseason amid strong showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.

“But various other draft experts have expressed concerns over Payton’s lack of starts and an elongated throwing motion,” Izzo wrote. “He has tuned out the incessant draft chatter in preparation for the numerous job interviews he’s gone on over the last month.”

Payton, 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, provides an NFL team with an athletic, big-bodied quarterback who can both run through defenses and sling the ball downfield. He led NDSU to a 12-1 record last season as he threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns versus four interceptions amid a 72% completion rate. He also rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns on 136 carries.

“We’ll see where the world takes me,” Payton said via Izzo. “I had a blast training over the last three months. It was long at times, but it’s what you dream of as a kid.”

Cole Payton Soon the 5th QB From NDSU to Land in Draft

Payton will join elite company in NDSU history as the fifth quarterback taken from the program in the draft once his name is called.

It started with Carson Wentz in 2016 as the No. 2 pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Easton Stick went in the fifth round to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019. Trey Lance then went No. 3 to the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, and Cam Miller landed in the sixth round of the 2024 draft with the Las Vegas Raiders.

“It’s a big reason why I went to NDSU in the first place,” Payton said via Izzo. “We have dreams to go to the NFL.”

Payton also had to wait his turn with the Bison despite being a prized recruit from Omaha Westside. He played sparingly on run packages while Miller remained the starter for four years.

Once Payton’s turn came in 2025, he made the most of it. Because of Payton, NDSU will tie Alabama and Ohio State with an NCAA-best five quarterbacks drafted since 2016.

Cole Payton Makes Admission With Draft Around the Corner

Payton’s years of work will come to fruition at some point during the draft. He already has an idea what it will like when a team’s general manager will call him.

“I’ll lose it for sure,” Payton said via Izzo. “This is what you dream of as a kid. This is what you work for. I just want to enjoy the moment.”

“This isn’t just for the little boy that had this dream,” he added. “This is for all of the great people I’ve had around me, so there will be a lot of gratitude and tears of joy, for sure.”