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Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Cole Payton reacted to a potential a non-quarterback role in 2026.
The Philadelphia Eagles face the strong possibility of keeping four quarterbacks on their 2026 active roster. That’s because the team possessed three signal-callers with well-defined roles and then added North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Retaining four signal-callers would be a lot easier decision for the Eagles if one of the quarterbacks contributed in another area. Standing at more than 230 pounds with dual-threat capabilities, Payton is the obvious choice to potentially do that.
The rookie is open to the possibility too.
“If that’s what the team wants, if that’s what team needs, I’m all for it,” Payton said to reporters, via Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski.
Payton also told the media he played running back and tight end at North Dakota State. Finally, Payton also played on special teams.
Last year, the quarterback completed 72% of his passes while averaging 12.1 yards per attempt. But he also ran for 777 yards with 13 touchdowns. Payton averaged 6.7 yards per carry in his five-year college career.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a variety of other NFL teams. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb