Cole Payton, who played quarterback at North Dakota State, might end up making a bigger splash as a fifth-round pick than people expect.

He’s not just another late-round flyer, either. An NFL executive recently told insider J.L. Canfora that Payton has real upside. The Eagles have done something similar before, so this isn't coming out of nowhere.

Remember Carson Wentz? Philly grabbed him with the second overall pick back in 2016, but Jalen Hurts ended up taking over. Now, some people around the league think history might repeat itself with Payton possibly replacing Hurts down the road.

The executive went all in on Payton: “You know, I believe in that kid. That was my No. 2 quarterback in the draft. And Howie [Roseman] takes him? Come on. He sees it too. Cole Payton, if you bring him along the right way, can start in this league.”

Roseman, the guy in Philly’s front office, was a big part of the Wentz pick. He’s seen his fair share of quarterback changes over the years, and honestly, that might matter this time, too.

The executive didn’t hold back: “All the stuff you hear about Hurts, all the drama and where he is in his contract." You can call me crazy, but I think this kid could take over from him in a few years. They did this with [Kevin] Kolb, even when [Donovan] McNabb was still there. I know how Howie thinks. This kid has a chance.”

Payton had to wait for his turn at NDSU.

Payton rolled into North Dakota State in 2021, known as a strong recruit for an FCS quarterback, straight out of Omaha.

He was supposed to be the next big thing, just like the string of successful Bison quarterbacks before him. But things didn’t break that way at first. Cam Miller, the QB ahead of him, kept stacking up wins and making a name for himself in Fargo.

Miller even beat out Quincy Patterson II, a gifted dual-threat quarterback who transferred in from Virginia Tech. After Patterson got banged up in 2021, Miller took over, steered the team to a national championship, and then hung on to the starting job through 2024.

Patterson left for Temple, so Payton slid into the Bison’s running packages in a spot that Patterson had filled before. And Payton did more than just fill that role. In 2022, he ran for 284 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries. By the next year, he really took off: 615 yards and 13 touchdowns on 84 carries.

Setback, then a breakout

Payton started 2024 looking like the same kind of threat on the ground, but a shoulder injury cut his season short. He only managed 164 rushing yards and a score on 21 carries before he went down.

Finally, in 2025, his shot as the full-time starter arrived after Miller left for the NFL draft, drafted by the Raiders in the sixth round. Payton made the most of it. He led NDSU to an unbeaten 12-0 regular season, completing 70% of his passes for 2,719 yards, with 16 touchdowns and just four picks. And he still ran wild, with 777 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 136 carries.

Now, he’s got a fresh chance in Philadelphia. If you ask people around the league, he’s not just there to hold a clipboard. They're watching to see what happens next.

Patrick Mahomes just got some really good news about his knee injury. A sports doctor thinks the Chiefs star will be back for Week 1, which honestly feels like the best outcome fans could hope for.

Dr Jesse Morse, a sports medicine specialist in Florida, jumped in after reports surfaced that Mahomes is set to join the Chiefs’ OTAs starting May 26. Morse said, “Great news for Patrick Mahomes. I expect him to start Week 1,” and you can imagine how much hope that sparks among Kansas City fans. If Morse is right, Mahomes could be recovering even faster than expected, which is huge for such a crucial offseason.

Andy Reid echoed this optimism at the rookie minicamp. He said Mahomes has been heavily involved in rehab ever since surgery for his torn ACL and LCL, a brutal injury from the Dec. 14 loss to the Chargers that knocked the Chiefs out of the playoffs for the first time with Mahomes at quarterback.

Reid added, “I know he’s doing a lot of stuff right now. He is throwing the ball. He does it on his own.” Basically, Mahomes isn’t just waiting around. He’s getting after it.

Reid thinks Mahomes could join his teammates at OTAs on May 26-28, though it’s unclear how involved he’ll be. There’s some technical stuff with the NFL’s Physically Unable to Perform list to keep in mind. Once Mahomes sets foot on the practice field, his PUP “clock” starts and cannot be restarted, so the Chiefs need to be careful with timing.

“Once you start the clock, then the clock’s got to be rolling,” Reid said. “You just have to evaluate what you want to do there. But he’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.”

Mahomes himself was never shy about his recovery goals. Back in January, he made it clear he wanted to be back by Week 1 with zero restrictions, and his doctor agreed that was realistic. In March, Mahomes posted a quick video on Instagram showing him dropping back and firing a throw in the gym – the first public look at him working his arm since surgery.

If, for some reason, he needs more time, the Chiefs have options. They brought in Justin Fields this offseason and also have rookie Garrett Nussmeier and veteran Chris Oladokun waiting in the wings.

Mahomes, now 30, has built a record of 95 wins, 31 losses, 267 touchdown passes, and almost 36,000 yards over nine NFL seasons. Last year was rough; he went 6-8 in 14 starts, threw 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and missed the playoffs for the first time since Andy Reid took over. Still, if history tells us anything, Mahomes always finds a way to bounce back.