
Quarterback
6'2 5/8" · 232 lbs · North Dakota St.
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Career stats · nflverse
NFL Combine
Athletic composite
7 of 7 metrics graded
40-Yard
4.56s·95th of 414
Vertical
40.0″·99th of 364
Broad
130.0″·99th of 365
3-Cone
7.12s·54th of 335
Shuttle
4.36s·47th of 342
Arm
31.6″·45th of 145
Hand
10.3″·90th of 146
40-Yard
vs. 414
Vertical
vs. 364
Broad
vs. 365
3-Cone
vs. 335
Shuttle
vs. 342
Arm
vs. 145
Hand
vs. 146
Draft
Pre-draft · 2026 class
Scouting report · The One Analytics
Day 1Projected · Round 1-2Cole Payton projects as a movement pocket quarterback. A QB out of North Dakota St. who tested with a clearly above-average athletic profile (76th composite). Combine line reads 6'2 5/8" · 232 lb, 4.56s 40, 40″ vertical, 130″ broad. College career: 199/283 for 3,190 yards · 21 TD · 6 INT across 5 seasons. Unique Build — the closest historical combine match still sits well outside typical comp distance. Dominance score 48 (trailed the cohort when adjusted for age of production).
Dominance score · college production
Below-cohort producer
Blends 20% age-weighted career volume, 45% peak single-season production, 10% breakout, and 25% position-specific efficiency.
Bottom
Career volume
20% wtage-weighted
Average
Peak season
45% wt2025
Weak
Breakout
10% wtearly-career + jump year
Elite
Efficiency
25% wtY/A · 11.27
Trait grades
Arm Talent
93th percentile · 11.80 college AYA on 283 attempts (adj. yards/att, NFL-predictive)
Speed
94th percentile · 4.56s 40-yard
Athleticism
86th percentile · Composite of speed + explosion + agility percentiles
Frame
53th percentile · 6'2 5/8" · 232 lb
Mobility
65th percentile · 4.56s 40 · 7.12s cone
Burst
99th percentile · 40" vert · 130" broad
X-Factor
Unique Build · No Direct Comp — closest historical comp sits 0.77 pooled std-dev away. Their measurable combination is genuinely uncommon.
Primary risk
Athletic profile is balanced. The primary risk is positional value, not measurable holes.
Scheme fit
Wide-zone + RPO offense that leans on his legs as a constraint defenders have to honor.