The Eagles added to their quarterback room, drafting Cole Payton No. 178 overall out of North Dakota State.
A five-year player for the Bison, Payton started his final season at North Dakota State. The lefty threw for 2,719 and 16 touchdowns last season while adding 777 yards and 13 scores on the ground.
He was an Honorable Mention All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman Trophy). He helped lead North Dakota State to a 12-1 record and the top seed in the FCS playoffs.
The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Payton joins an Eagles quarterback group of Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton.
Cole Payton: "I'm just so excited to get to Philly and learn from a great room of quarterbacks and some great offensive minds and a great coaching staff that I'm excited to get to know better and just learn and grow. I think with my hard work and ability to want to improve every single day, I think it'll work itself out."
Head Coach Nick Sirianni: "Really good with the ball in his hands in the quarterback run game. Made great decisions with the football, accurate passer. ... But there's some wild plays on his tape that are really impressive. I mean, I think I charted, like, four times he jumped over somebody or wrote down a bunch of times he's the best athlete on the field. Big, strong, really excited about him."
The Eagles kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft by moving up three spots in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to select WR Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Markel Bell was selected No. 68 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Markel Bell was selected No. 68 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Markel Bell was selected No. 68 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
QB Cole Payton was selected by the Eagles with the 178th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
QB Cole Payton was selected by the Eagles with the 178th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
G Micah Morris was selected by the Eagles with the 207th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
G Micah Morris was selected by the Eagles with the 207th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
G Micah Morris was selected by the Eagles with the 207th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
G Micah Morris was selected by the Eagles with the 207th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
G Micah Morris was selected by the Eagles with the 207th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
S Cole Wisniewski was selected by the Eagles with the 244th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
DT Uar Bernard was selected by the Eagles with the 251st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
OLB Keyshawn James-Newby was selected by the Eagles with the 252nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
