Cole Payton Scouting Report

Cole Payton is a tough, strong, athletic, pass-first QB with phenomenal developmental building blocks to become an elite NFL signal-caller.

Draft Grade: Round 2 - Winning Starter

Strengths:

Fast, Tough, Powerful: Shows elite physical traits and plays a physical brand of football. He is unafraid to fight for extra yardage, accelerates quickly, and is difficult for defenders to bring down once engaged.

Arm Strength: Possesses high-end arm talent with the ability to generate velocity and drive the football. Has ample range to stretch the field vertically and make throws to all areas of the field.

Ball Placement: Flashes rare, high-level ball placement on downfield throws, especially outside the numbers and when fitting the ball into tight windows over the middle. Consistently puts the ball in stride and away from defenders.

Ad-Lib Traits and Escapability: Extends plays effectively when pockets collapse. Maintains vision downfield, keeps his eyes up outside of structure, and can deliver accurate, on-time throws while on the move.

Concerns:

Inexperience: Limited overall college dropbacks with 2025 marking his first season as a full-time starter. Will enter the NFL with less game exposure than many quarterback prospects, which could extend his developmental timeline.

Mechanics: Displays an awkward, arm-dominant throwing motion with inconsistent lower-body involvement. Footwork and body control at release can be erratic, resulting in mechanical inefficiencies and occasional inaccuracies.