Cole Payton’s journey to the Panini Senior Bowl is anything but conventional, and that’s exactly what makes it compelling. After waiting patiently behind established starters at North Dakota State, Payton finally got his opportunity in 2025 and made the most of it, turning one season as the Bison’s full-time starter into a legitimate NFL scouting conversation.
His blend of efficiency, explosiveness, and toughness has taken Payton from the FCS spotlight to one of the most important weeks of the NFL Draft process.
Cole Payton Background and Scouting Report
Payton is a 2021 graduate of Omaha Westside High School, where he was a three-year starter and team captain as a senior under head coach Brett Froendt. During his time with the Warriors, Payton led the program to a 31–5 record across three seasons, highlighted by a Class A state championship in 2020.
His dominance earned him Nebraska’s Gatorade State Player of the Year honors for the 2020–21 season, along with two first-team all-state selections. A three-star recruit, Payton committed to North Dakota State over other offers from South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.
What truly separates Payton’s path from many of today’s quarterbacks is his patience. He stayed at North Dakota State for all five seasons, a rarity in modern college football, especially in the transfer portal era. For much of his career, he sat behind former Bison quarterback Cam Miller, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. Rather than transferring, Payton embraced development, learning the system and waiting for his opportunity.
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That patience paid off. When he finally took over as the starter, the growth, discipline, and preparation were immediately evident.
Payton is a big-bodied quarterback at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, with the frame and toughness to withstand NFL-level physicality. He plays a fast, powerful, and aggressive brand of football, which shows up both as a runner and a thrower.
In his lone season at the helm, Payton threw for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions, finishing 16th nationally in passing while posting a 72% completion rate. As dangerous as he was through the air, Payton’s legs elevated his value even further. He rushed for 777 yards and added 13 rushing touchdowns, consistently punishing defenses with his physical running style.
His physical traits jump off the tape. Payton is a plus athlete with legitimate running power, capable of breaking tackles and finishing runs, but he’s more than just a dual-threat quarterback. His arm strength is above average, allowing him to stretch defenses vertically and confidently attack throws outside the hashes.
Despite limited starting experience, his accuracy was better than expected, particularly considering his efficiency numbers. He shows the ability to layer throws at multiple levels, and that aspect of his game should continue to improve with more reps. Payton is comfortable escaping the pocket, but he doesn’t abandon it prematurely, consistently keeping his eyes downfield while extending plays.
There are areas for refinement. His physical playing style can be both a blessing and a curse; he’ll need to learn when to slide, protect himself, and avoid unnecessary hits. Mechanically, Payton can be an arm thrower, relying heavily on upper-body strength rather than consistently incorporating his lower half. While this highlights just how strong his arm is, improved footwork and lower-body engagement would help create more effortless velocity and improved accuracy.
The biggest concern evaluators will point to is inexperience. NFL teams typically prefer quarterbacks with more starts before committing premium draft capital. That said, Payton’s limited exposure could also work in his favor, as his ceiling may be higher than that of more seasoned prospects once he receives NFL coaching.
What Payton Needs to Prove at the Panini Senior Bowl
Payton may be the quarterback with the most to gain at the Senior Bowl.
In a strong overall quarterback group, his profile stands out due to his FCS background and limited starting résumé. While his loyalty and development at North Dakota State are commendable, scouts will want to see tangible growth from the end of the season to Senior Bowl week to ensure his production wasn’t a one-year peak.
Arm talent comparisons are always critical at events like this, and Payton has the opportunity to show that he possesses a true FBS- and NFL-caliber arm that simply operated at the FCS level. If he proves he belongs physically and mentally, evaluators will quickly adjust their perceptions.
NDSU’s pro-style offense and experience under center give him a strong foundation, but he’ll need to demonstrate command of the huddle, comfort with NFL terminology, and the ability to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
Currently, Payton sits at QB8 and 176th overall on the PFSN Consensus Big Board, with a 75.14 draft grade. He also finished the season with the second-highest PFSN QB Impact Grade in the FCS (89.7).
There’s plenty to prove and plenty to gain. A strong week in Mobile could significantly reshape Payton’s NFL Draft trajectory.
