The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t just make a fifth round pick Saturday. They reopened a storyline. One that still echoes through the walls of the Philadelphia Eagles locker room, the fan base, and the franchise’s modern identity at quarterback.
With the No.178 overall selection, Howie Roseman dipped back into familiar territory, selecting quarterback Cole Payton out of North Dakota State, the same pipeline that once delivered Carson Wentz to Philadelphia as the No. 2 overall pick in 2017. And just like that, the past met the present.
The Irony Philly Can’t Ignore
It is impossible to discuss Payton without revisiting the quarterback domino effect that reshaped this franchise in recent years.
Wentz arrived from North Dakota State as the golden arm, the savior, the MVP front runner before a knee injury derailed his season in December of 2017. At the time he was the face of the future.
Then came Jalen Hurts in 2020, a somewhat surprise pick in the second round that was met with confusion, skepticism, and eventually, seismic change.
But Hurts did not just develop. He became Wentz’ replacement. Now, years later, the Eagles are once again drafting a quarterback from North Dakota State, this time behind Hurts, not ahead of him. The irony is undeniable.
A Pick That Will Move the Needle
As ESPN’s Tim McManus noted, this is the kind of selection that moves the needle in Philly.
Not because Payton is expected to start. He’s not. Not yet at least. As of the writing of this article Payton is the #4 quarterback on the Birds QB depth chart behind Hurts, Andy Daulton and Tenner McKee. The reason this pick is going to cause a major kerfuffle of speculation among the dan base and the sports talk show circuit in Philly is because of what the new guy represents.
Philadelphia fans have lived through the volatility of quarterback transitions. They have seen a franchise cornerstone unravel. They have seen a backup become a Super Bowl level quarterback. They have seen how quickly narratives shift in this city.So when the Eagles draft a quarterback, especially one from North Dakota State, people notice.
And they talk. Boy do they talk. In fact they can’t seem to shut up about it. It just goes with the underlying narrative in the city of Brotherly Shove. No one is ever happy there unless they are pissed off about something.
Who Is Cole Payton
Payton definitely is one of the more interesting quarterback selections from Roseman’s 15 career drafts as the Birds head personnel decision maker. Add him to the list of some of these “gunslingers.”
Clayton Thorson (2019, Round 5, Pick 167)
Tanner McKee (2023, Round 6, Pick 188)
Carson Wentz (2016, Round 1, Pick 2)
Jalen Hurts (2020, Round 2, Pick 53)
Mike Kafka (2010, Round 4, Pick 122)
Matt Barkley (2013, Round 4, Pick 98)
Clayton Thorson (2019, Round 5, Pick 167)
All told Roseman has drafted a quarterback in 8 of his 15 drafts as of 2026, highlighting his strategy of treating the position as a crucial development area for the team and perhaps giving some validation to what he once coined his team, “a quarterback factory.” Ok Howie, put down the dopamine and step away from it.
But this kid actually brings intrigue, production, and projection. At 6 foot 3, 232 pounds, the lefty fits the modern mold of a dual threat quarterback.
In 2025, he threw for 3,188 yards with 16 passing touchdowns, added 13 more on the ground, and protected the football with just four interceptions while completing 72 percent of his passes.
That is Bo Nix-at-Oregon-type efficiency, a serious upside. Scouts rave about his ability to push the ball downfield with touch and timing. His drop in the bucket deep throws stood out during Senior Bowl week, where he was widely viewed as the most consistent passer on the field.
He is tough in the pocket, willing to take hits. He’s shown that he is very capable of extending plays and is built for short yardage situations.
There is a reason one AFC scout compared him to a Taysom Hill type weapon with more passing ability.
But he is not a finished product. No quarterback making the transition from college to the NFL is. Payton’s mechanics can get loose. His throwing motion can loop. His lower body stiffness shows up, especially when working left. He can lock onto his first read and he does not always trust his legs when plays break down. And not sure if this is a pattern yet but he did miss the final eight games of the 2024 season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder and broke his right thumb in a second round playoff loss this past season. Hmmmm, sound familiar? Little bit?
The Hurts Factor
This pick lands at a fascinating moment for Hurts. After reaching the mountaintop and delivering a Super Bowl performance that cemented his place among elite quarterbacks back in 2025, Hurts faced criticism last season and beyond. Consistency questions, resistance to scheme adjustments, bad body language, etc. You know just the rite of passage stuff that goes with being a world champion in the land of Philly Philly.
Now he enters a new phase under offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, tasked with evolving again. And behind him is a quarterback from the same school as the man he replaced. While that may not qualify as pressure, but in Philadelphia, it becomes conversation.
Fan Buzz Incoming
This is where it gets real. Philly does not do quiet quarterback rooms. The presence of Payton will spark debate, content, click-bait, and just more of the same stuff that has ruined real journalism completely. It always does.
Some will see it as smart roster building, a cheap, high upside backup in a league where quarterback depth matters. Others will read between the lines, wondering if history is repeating itself. If this is how it starts. If this is how it always starts. That is just the nature of the city. If you are quarterback you are king, as long as you win the Super Bowl every, damn, year. It’s just the cost of doing business in the Big Scapple.
The Bigger Picture
Ok lets bring it back to reality. Make no mistake, this is still Hurts’ team. Payton is not here to compete for the starting job. He is here to develop. To learn. To grow behind a proven leader while refining his mechanics, processing, and consistency.
But the symbolism is unavoidable. The Eagles went back to North Dakota State, a familiar well that once defined a franchise era.
Only this time, the roles and players are reversed. And in Philadelphia, Payton is more than just a draft pick, he is the juiciest kind of conspiracy-theory fodder a Philadelphia could ever ask for. You just can’t make it up.
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