The Philadelphia Eagles made some tongues wag in the 2026 NFL Draft when general manager Howie Roseman selected North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton in the fifth round.
The addition of Payton doesn’t threaten the job security of starter Jalen Hurts, but considering the recent drama surrounding Philly’s QB1 — more on that in a minute — it made some fans wonder whether drama may be brewing in the QB room. When asked about Hurts after getting drafted, Payton squashed any doubt he’ll be following Hurts’ lead.
“Jalen Hurts is a winner, he’s a competitor, definitely a guy I look up to,” Payton said about Hurts, via ESPN. “I’m so excited to pick his brain, learn from him and the rest of the room. It’s going to be really cool to be under his wing and the rest of the guys, and I can’t wait to learn and grow.”
Eagles GM Howie Roseman Explained Selection of Payton in 2026 Draft
The Eagles’ room currently has Hurts, Payton, potential trade chip Tanner McKee and veteran Andy Dalton. While there has been talk McKee could be moved, Roseman says the team would roll with four QBs.
“We talked about it: We’re open to carrying four quarterbacks, for sure,” Roseman said, via The Athletic. “If you talk about it being the most important position in sports and you have four good ones, why wouldn’t you keep them? It’s no different than keeping 11 offensive linemen or an extra defensive lineman. For us, if we weren’t going to take [Payton] just because of what we have at the position right now, it didn’t seem to make sense. It’s not consistent with our philosophy.”
Asked why he added yet another quarterback, Roseman kept it simple. “He was the highest guy on the board, and obviously, it’s an important position,” the GM said.
The addition of Payton also comes at a time when chatter about Hurts’ future has been rampant.
An April 1 ESPN report described the Eagles’ offense as “calcified” last season, while citing sources who said Hurts had pushed back against scheme changes, among other things. Roseman defended Hurts, but the rumor mill can’t be stopped sometimes.
A Closer Look at Jalen Hurts’ Newest Backup, Rookie Cole Payton
GettyCole Payton dominated in Fargo when he had the chance.
A five-year Bison, Payton spent his early seasons in a Taysom Hill-style hybrid role before taking over as the full-time starter in 2025. He threw for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns against just four interceptions while adding 777 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground, per NDSU’s official site. He was a Walter Payton Award finalist and an Honorable Mention All-American as North Dakota State went 12-1.
His athleticism is likely what attracted the Eagles. At 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds, Payton ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical and a 10-foot-10 broad jump. He was also very accurate, netting a 72% completion rate as a starting QB.
Payton, with his run-game versatility and Hurts-adjacent skill set, will give new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion a developmental piece who can double as a gadget option immediately. Payton will be no threat to Hurts — at least not right away — so it’ll be interesting to see how the rookie performs in training camp and the preseason.
New Eagles QB Cole Payton Breaks Silence on Jalen Hurts