Some athletes announce themselves early, loudly, and without apology. Cole Payton didn’t. He waited patiently for years in North Dakota behind veterans. Now, with the Senior Bowl forthcoming, he finally has the floor, and the timing feels intentional. When he stepped in as the Bison’s starter in 2025, there was no easing into the role.
Payton took control of the offense and immediately made it his own, playing like someone who understood how fleeting opportunities can be.
Cole Payton Compared to NFC QB by Dane Brugler
That understanding has not gone unnoticed. Before Senior Bowl practices, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler offered an observation on Cole Payton, writing:
“Maybe it’s because he is left-handed, but I see a lot of Michael Penix with Payton. A functional athlete with a good arm, even if his passes are sprayed on occasion. Payton waited his turn and impressed when he finally got a chance to start in 2025, but scouts want to see him do it versus better competition.”
Like Michael Penix, Payton brings a blend of arm talent and athleticism that resists easy categorization. He can stretch the field vertically, attack tight windows, and extend plays without folding under pressure. There are moments of imprecision, yes, but there’s also an unmistakable confidence.
The production backs up the belief. In his only season as the starter, Payton threw for 2,719 yards with 16 touchdowns against four interceptions, completing 72% of his passes. He added 777 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, often lowering his shoulder instead of sliding.
However, some context needs to be checked. North Dakota State has become an incubator for NFL quarterback talent, producing Carson Wentz, Trey Lance, and, most recently, Cam Miller, the same QB Payton spent years backing up.
That lineage raises the expectations, but it also sharpens the evaluation. Unlike those before him, Payton will go into the draft process with only one year as the unquestioned starter.
That reality is baked into his current evaluation. He will go into the pre-draft cycle as QB11 and the No. 202 overall prospect on the PFSN Consensus Big Board, carrying a 75.14 grade. The tools are visible. The production is real. What scouts are still deciding is how much weight to give projection.
At 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds, Payton looks ready for the moment. He plays at center as he has waited long enough, and by the end of the week, he may leave as something far harder to ignore.
