Payton didn’t get to rep much while rotating in as QB3 but he looked more advanced than I expected him to be.
He made the throw of practice when he hit undrafted rookie tight end Dae’Quan Wright (my guy) in stride for a 20+ yard gain on a corner route. Good anticipatory throw that was right on the money. Payton had two other good completions that stood out. He’s already accomplished more than Clayton Thorson ever did in an Eagles uniform.
Jimmy Kempski·
Payton is currently the QB4, so he has very little chance of getting on the field as a quarterback as a rookie. His only real chance is if he becomes the QB3 as a result of a McKee trade, or if he simply outplays Dalton in training camp and in the preseason games. And even then he would need two quarterbacks to get hurt. Payton is not guaranteed a roster spot. In the recent past, the Eagles have cut Day 3 quarterbacks like Clayton Thorson (5th round, 2019) and Kyle McCord (6th round, 2025). They stunk, frankly. The Eagles certainly didn't select Payton in the fifth round with the intent of cutting him and hoping they can carry him on the practice squad all season. They'll want him to prove he belongs on the 53 man roster, even if that means keeping four quarterbacks, but he'll have to show at least something to stick. But Payton is also an interesting football player in that he's a 230+ pound guy and a good runner. He played some running back, tight end, and special teams before he became the starting quarterback at North Dakota State. Can the Eagles use him in some way as a non-quarterback? I suppose that he'll have to prove he's worthy of being one of the 46 most useful players on the roster gameday, if so. My guess is that 2026 will be a developmental year for Payton, and he'll likely be among the inactives each week. But I am curious to see if the Eagles try to use him in other creative ways throughout training camp.
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