From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on North Dakota State QB Cole Payton.
#9 Cole Payton/QB North Dakota State – 6-3, 223 pounds (Redshirt Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Cole Payton 6-3/223 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Big and old-school build with bulk and size
– Intriguing physical trait combination of arm power and athleticism many others don’t possess
– Cannon arm where the ball jumps out with ease, effortlessly fires downfield with a tight spiral
– Escapability to extend and create, power to break sacks and tackles, and threat on designed QB runs
– Shows ability to throw on the run when moving to his left
– More experience under center than many of his peers, played in run-heavy and pro-style offense, and comfortable in play-pass
– Throws with a wide base and generates plenty of torque on his throws
– Effective pump fake and uses it to manipulate defenders
– Short-term memory, doesn’t shrink after making a mistake
– Willing to take a hit to make a throw
– Plenty of zip on throws to make throws over the middle between defenders
The Bad
– Windup on delivery, side-arm thrower, and ball drops to the hip on release
– Downfield accuracy is spotty and tends to wildly overthrow his target
– Inconsistent on intermediate throws and timing routes, too often behind the receiver, and struggles to create good RAC chances
– Drops eyes and looks to run too early, and is prone to running himself into sacks
– Didn’t often move to his second read and limited tape truly scanning defenses
– Absorbs lots of contact and is vulnerable to getting beaten out at the next level
– Benefitted from a run-heavy offense that didn’t ask too much of him
– Loses accuracy rolling to the right, and the ball tends to miss high/sail
– Will force throws and trust arm too much, shows too much “hero” ball that compounds mistakes and breakdowns
– Only one year of full-time starting experience and only recently made a true move to playing quarterback
– Limited pass attempt sample size
– Extremely long snap to throw time
Stats
– 282 career pass attempts (70.2 completion percentage) for 2,719 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions with 20 sacks (13 career starts)
– Career: 287 rushing attempts, 1,918 yards (6.7 YPC) with 31 touchdowns
– 2025: 2,719 passing yards, 16 TDs and 4 INTs; 777 rushing yards on 136 carries (5.7 YPC) and 13 touchdowns
– Set school records in HS with 5,338 career passing yards and 65 touchdowns, along with 2,122 rushing yards and 37 more touchdowns
– 31-5 career high school record and undefeated senior season (12-0) to win school’s first title since 1982
– PFF’s No. 1 offensive grade of any FCS QB in 2025 (No. 1 passing grade, No. 1 rushing grade)
– 3.33-second snap to throw time in 2025 (second-longest of any qualifying QB at FBS or FCS level)
– 11.3 percent “big-time throw” percentage best of any FBS/FCS quarterback, one of only two QBs in double-digits
– 12.3 ADOT fifth-best of any QB in FBS/FCS
Injury History
– 2023: suffered late-season ankle injury during the team’s playoff run
– 2024: tore labrum in right shoulder against South Dakota State in October, missed the rest of the season
– 2025: broken left thumb in playoff loss to Illinois State, but recovered to play in the Senior Bowl
Bio
– Two-star recruit from Omaha, Nebraska
– Chose NDSU over South Dakota State, Dartmouth, Illinois State, South Dakota, and Northern Iowa; Nebraska and Iowa State showed interest, but Payton affirmed commitment to North Dakota State
– Left-handed quarterback
– 2026 Senior Bowl participant
– Star high school pitcher who once posted a 2.06 ERA during sophomore season; fastball reportedly sat in 82-85 mph range
– Received a scholarship from Nebraska-Omaha to play baseball
– Named 2020 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year
– High school coaches praised his work ethic and leadership, attending every positional meeting on the team
– Played QB throughout career, but until 2025, was used in a designed run-package role as a Wildcat-like QB
– Finalist for 2025 Walter Payton Award given to top FCS player, lost out to Youngstown State QB Beau Brungard
Tape Breakdown
North Dakota State QB Cole Payton might be one of the most interesting prospects of the entire 2026 class, especially in a year without many intriguing passers. From a school that’s produced a mix of successes (Carson Wentz), busts (Trey Lance), and names in between (Easton Stick), Payton is a one-year starter as the program’s true quarterback.
It creates a small sample size closer to Lance. In fact, Lance had more career passing attempts (318) than Payton’s 282. Payton saw the field before 2025, but when he took it, it was almost always as a runner on designed quarterback carries. That continued into 2025, where his size, strength, and speed are uncommon. On that alone, it’ll draw comparisons to Josh Allen.
As a passer, a lefty at that, Payton doesn’t lack arm strength. The ball jumps out of his arm, and he fires downfield throws with ease. When they’re accurate, they’re pretty throws.
Negatively, Payton’s game runs hot and cold. Though blessed with a big arm, it isn’t always on-target. His passes can miss wildly, and his intermediate game is too often off-target. Receivers have to reach back for passes on the move. For Payton, it’s just not consistent.
Payton has a windup on delivery and tries to play too much hero ball despite benefitting from a strong run-heavy offense. This play sums it up. A ball he should’ve thrown away on a busted run that turns into a should-be sack into Payton breaking tackles and somehow gaining 3 yards. Impressive in a sense, but Payton is doing too much and absorbing too many hits.
It’s one reason why his snap-to-throw time is so long. He’ll need to speed up at the next level, even knowing his scrambles are one reason why that figure is so high. And as noted above, his sample size is so small that it’s hard to confidently judge him. Payton has more career rushing than passing attempts, which sorta sums everything up.
Conclusion
Overall, Cole Payton possesses fun tape. In a year where the position isn’t strong, he stands out, and his physical tools might be the most interesting of anyone in 2026. But he’s such a projection that it’s hard to know if he’ll stay at quarterback. His high school coach once remarked Payton might become a future NFL linebacker or tight end. That still seems possible, though tight end is far more likely than linebacker. Heck, a switch to running back seems on the table given his background.
Is he worth a late-round flier? Yes. But he’s truly a boom-bust prospect who might feel a little too overhyped as every draftnik’s favorite sleeper by April. The baseline traits are similar to Allen but that is far too lofty a comparison to make. A list of comparable names is slim, but I’ll land on Tim Tebow, the NFL version who finished his career at tight end. If he makes a position change, Taysom Hill will be his comparison.
NFL Projection: Mid-Late Day Three
Steelers Depot Grade – 6.8 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range – 5.7-8.2
Games Watched: vs Illinois State (2025), vs Illinois State (2025 – playoff), vs SE Missouri State (2025), Various QB Run Game Cutups
Recommended for you