Eagles Add to Quarterback Room with Cole Payton at No. 178

The Philadelphia Eagles have selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton with the 178th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Payton is a one-year starter after spending five total seasons with the FCS Bison, and he is a true dual-threat player, which makes his landing spot with Philadelphia an ideal fit. As a fifth-year senior in 2025, he completed over 71% of his passes for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding an additional 894 yards and 13 scores on the ground. The Eagles have one of the deepest quarterback depth charts in the league, with Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton already backing up Jalen Hurts, but with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman no stranger to making deals, it should come as no surprise if somebody is eventually dealt to thin the room. Whoever winds up as the primary backup in Philadelphia will hold strong insurance value in superflex dynasty leagues.

Source: NFL