The 2026 NFL draft isn't exactly flush with talent at the quarterback position, but the Pittsburgh Steelers still seem intrigued by a few of them. They just had area scout Jimmy Noel spend the day at Penn State's pro day, where QB Drew Allar got to show off his impressive frame and powerful arm for NFL teams.
On Thursday, QBs coach Tom Arth and scout Jim Ward got to watch another gifted passer perform at his pro day, with North Dakota State QB Cole Payton going through a workout in front of personnel from 25 NFL teams.
Payton made it known during an interview following his workout that the Steelers are bringing him in for a pre-draft visit soon, which only reinforces the idea that they could look to take a QB again this year. If they are going to use one of their many 2026 picks on the position, Payton is exactly the kind of prospect they should be considering.
Cole Payton would be a smart gamble for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 draft
According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Payton is the consensus QB7 and is ranked as the 166th overall player in the class. In reality, he seems to be trending towards being a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick thanks to simply being a talented QB in a weak class.
There are plenty of things to like about Payton as a prospect. He has great size for the position at just under 6'3" and 237 pounds. He has a strong arm and has the ability to throw from multiple angles and while on the move. He is an explosive athlete with the ball in his hands, and his build allows him to handle contact without as much injury risk.
Even with several key strengths in his profile, there is a reason why he isn't being projected as a high pick. He played at a lower level of competition, and a lot of his tape is hard to analyze fairly due to the sizable gap in talent NDSU had compared to their opponents. He isn't an inaccurate passer, but he struggles at times to place the ball in ideal spots for his receivers, even with them often being wide open by NFL standards.
The bottom line with Payton is that he is the type of athlete and playmaker that the NFL covets, but his lack of truly elite traits and low level of competition will keep him from being drafted as early as players with a similar profile. If Pittsburgh could get him with their last third-round pick at 99 or their fourth-round pick at 121, it would be a good way to test if head coach Mike McCarthy really can develop QBs.