The Pittsburgh Steelers are desperate to find a franchise quarterback. So, as expected, they won’t leave any stone unturned in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That includes scouting FCS quarterback Cole Payton.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora wrote Thursday the Steelers sent quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and area scout Jim Ward to the North Dakota State Pro Day in Fargo, North Dakota.
The primary reason for Arth and Ward attending the Pro Day was to see Payton. During the 2025 season, Payton was one of the top signal-callers in the FCS.
Steelers Now’s Brandan Howe referred to Payton as a “dark horse” quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Payton finished third in FCS offensive player of the year voting while leading North Dakota State to a 12-1 record. A dual-threat behind center, Payton threw for 2,719 yards and ran for 777 last season. He also threw for 16 touchdowns with four interceptions while scoring 13 rushing touchdowns.
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