Cole Payton

● Well-built athlete, with quality muscle mass in upper body and thighs ● Strong arm — can drive the ball without much help from his body ● Javelin thrower on opposite-hash and deep shots 10 Back to table of contents -- 14 of 629 -- ● Throws from wide base with a feel for touch ● Impressive athlete for his size, with mobility to create chunk plays on the ground ● Not only explosive but sustains speed to keep pursuit from easily closing gaps (six carries of 30-plus yards in 2025) ● Efficient on boots and comfortable throwing from various platforms ● No questions about his toughness or drive ● Outstanding work ethic — football is his only priority ● Described as a “first-round person” and leadership voice “improved with each game,” according to an NFL scout ● 12-1 record as a starter

● Underdeveloped pocket awareness and holds the ball too long ● Tends to get frazzled under pressure, leading to dropped eyes and sacks (took a safety versus Northern Iowa) ● Rigid in delivery, with an elongated release ● Inconsistent mechanics and wide base lead to sprays ● Doesn’t consistently step into throws; feet and eyes play on different pages ● Often waits for receivers to turn and find the ball before ripping throws ● No substitute for starting experience — he is behind the field ● Broken thumb on throwing hand attempting to recover a fumble during 2025 FCS playoffs (December 2025), which knocked him out of the game (NDSU lost); surgery the following day, but started throwing after six weeks and played in Senior Bowl

A one-year starter at North Dakota State, Payton was a multi-faceted weapon in offensive coordinator Dan Larson’s run-first offense. He turned down FBS options out of high school and hoped to see early playing time for the Bison, who were losing Trey Lance to the NFL. But Cam Miller won the starting job, so Payton served as his backup for four seasons. After accounting for 23 total touchdowns as a reserve in mop-up duty or special packages, he became the starter in 2025 and set school records for total offense per game (268.9) and per play (9.71). Going into the 2025 season, NFL teams saw Payton as an intriguing potential tight end convert, because of his size, athleticism and toughness. But that changed throughout the 2025 season. As a passer, he has a strong left arm, with the stature and aggressive mindset to attack every level of the field. His mechanics, release and accuracy are highly varied, and he doesn’t always trust his anticipation, which reflects his lack of experience. However, his mobility and run strength are separating factors (29 carries of 10-plus yards in 2025). Overall, Payton is green and will require patience, but he’s a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. His physical tools and competitive makeup are promising qualities for a developmental prospect.