Turn back the clock a decade to the 2016 NFL Draft, where the Cleveland Browns held the No. 2 overall selection.
As usual, the Browns were in search of a quarterback, but the options were limited after Jared Goff, who went No. 1 overall to the Los Angeles Rams. Needing to kickstart the team’s latest rebuild, the Browns traded the selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in return for additional draft capital.
Cleveland received considerable grief for “missing out” on quarterback Carson Wentz, whom the
Eagles selected, despite Wentz being a career backup who has played for six teams.
Wentz kicked off a bit of a run on North Dakota State quarterbacks, an uninspiring list that includes Trey Lance, Easton Stick, and Cam Miller.
For those who still pine for the Browns to correct that “draft day mistake” from 10 years ago, they can look to Cole Payton, the latest Bison quarterback hoping to succeed where those before him failed.
Name: Cole Payton
Position: Quarterback
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 232 pounds
College: North Dakota State Bison
2025 Passing Stats: 13 games, 72.0 completion percentage, 2,719 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 193.4 quarterback rating
2025 Rushing Stats: 13 games, 777 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per rush, 13 rushing touchdowns, 59.8 rushing yards per game
Career Passing Stats: 52 games, 70.3 completion percentage, 3,190 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 185.3 quarterback rating
Career Rushing Stats: 52 games, 1,514 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per rush, 31 rushing touchdowns, 29.1 rushing yards per game
Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 145th overall, projected fifth round
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Round 2 – Winning Starter
What an Expert is Saying
Payton is a dual-threat, single-season FCS starter with good size. He’s a lefty with shoddy mechanics and subpar arm talent, but he still manages to deliver throws with touch to all three levels. He lacks drive velocity to dot throws into tight windows and might not have the timing needed to outfox pro zone defenders, though. He’s not shifty but excels when short yardage is needed and has build-up speed for explosive runs once he gets rolling. Payton projects as a QB3 and will require packaged plays to take advantage of his rushing ability until he proves himself a functional pocket passer.
What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):
Payton is as unique a prospect as you’ll find in this class. He’s a left-handed quarterback who’s built like a big running back and essentially served as one for the majority of his career. He was a five-year player at FCS NDSU but only a one-year starter, and attempted just 291 passes during his entire career. But he was one of the standout players at the Senior Bowl (playing just weeks after undergoing thumb surgery on his throwing hand).
He has an awkward shot-put-style delivery and exhibits some upper-body tightness. Still, he has a compact and quick release and gets really good zip on his intermediate throws. He also shows good energy on his sideline throws. As for the deep ball, he doesn’t drive it at an elite level, but he has enough juice to attack vertically when he’s on time.
Payton will draw comparisons to Taysom Hill because of his mobility and the way he was used early in his career. But that’s not the best comp, given Payton’s exponentially higher ceiling at the quarterback position. Some NFL teams believe Payton might have the highest upside of any quarterback in this class. Those teams view his development and value through a two-phased lens. Phase 1 is to get value out of Payton in short-yardage and goal-line packages early in his career. And if developed properly during the first phase, Phase 2 is to let him compete for the starting job a couple of years down the road.
Fit with the Browns
Anytime the word “polarizing” is used in a draft profile, it is a bit unsettling. And when a team is desperate for a quarterback, they can do stupid things, like select Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick.
While Payton played in 53 games with the Bison, he was a starter for only one season, and a lack of college starts is a red flag for quarterbacks.
Payton is a dual-threat quarterback, and head coach Todd Monken knows how to utilize that type of talent after working with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. But are the Browns in a position to let Payton sit and develop while they bumble through another season of incompetent quarterback play?
No way the Browns should use a first-round selection on Payton, and even the second round (pick No. 39 overall) would probably be too high. But if he falls into the third round? Maybe?
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
If the Browns draft a quarterback, then Dillon Gabriel is likely the odd man out. (He may be anyway.) If the Browns draft a good quarterback, then Shedeur Sanders could be taking his show somewhere else this fall.
Priority: As high as it has ever been.
What are your thoughts on Cole Payton? Should the Browns take a gamble on him? Let us know in the comments!
