The Arizona Cardinals may or may not need to bring in and develop a young quarterback. Or perhaps, they may wait until next year’s college draft.
This year’s crop is top-heavy, and then it is a quagmire of developmental guys. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort may not want to develop a young signalcaller, and instead draft someone who can come in on Day 1 of training camp and compete for the starting job.
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Payton, out of North Dakota State (NDS), has played a ton of college
football games and contests that can decide the National Championship at the D-2 level. In 2021 and also 2024, NDS won the National Championship.
NDS is well-known for winning championships. And they recruit smart, efficient quarterbacks. Payton is one of those. Exceptional runner with 31 rushing touchdowns. Only six interceptions in his entire college career.
QB Cole Payton
Draft projection: Round 6
Cardinals pick: #183
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Specifics:
Career Total Passing Touchdowns: 21
Career Interceptions: 4
Career QB Rating: 185.3
Career Rushing Attempts: 287
Career Rushing Yards: 1,919
Career Total Rushing Touchdowns: 31
Accolades: Two-time National champion, Second Team All-Mountain Valley Conference, Senior Bowl invitee
Positives:
- Good prototypical NFL frame
- Outstanding deep ball placement
- Lefty who has good precision passes either side
- Dangerous rushing QB
- Rare explosive power for a QB
- Thick lower half
- Poise under pressure
Negatives:
- One season of starting at the FBS level
- Mechanical overhaul is needed
- Fumble issues
- Needs better accuracy on intermediate throws
- Reading zone is a concern
Expert Draft Site Analysis
Finally, as a starter, Payton holds the school’s record for completion percentage and yards per pass attempt. He also completed a Master’s Degree in Sports Management and finished third in the 2025 Walter Payton Award voting. He was a Senior Bowl participant but struggled behind an overmatched offensive line. While it was against a lower level of competition, Payton can play. He regularly looked like the second-best athlete on the field. Payton shows the ability to layer throws over linebackers and has enough arm strength to reach outside the numbers at all levels. He is a crafty runner who maximizes yardage in space and brings more physicality to contact than most quarterbacks. Payton has limited starting experience, but showed a high level of play in 2025, making him an intriguing option late on day two or early on day three.
