Steelers Eyeing North Dakota's Payton for QB

0:00It's March 20th, here's your NFL news in two minutes. The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the 2026 NFL draft, needing a quarterback, and they're showing real interest in an unexpected name from. North Dakota State, Cole Payton. While teams like the Raiders might grab top prospect for Nando Mendoza early, the Steelers could pass on first round guys like Ty Simpson and look at day two options such as Drew Aller or Carson Beck. Now Payton, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska, has visited their facilities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Earlier this week, the team ramped up their evaluation by sending quarterbacks coach Tom Arth to Payton's pro day, a bigger commitment than Scouts at. Other schools. This goes beyond basic scouting, signaling they seat potential worthy investment as draft prep wraps up. Payton fits the mold new offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy wants, much like his praise for big pocket passers such as 6 foot 4, Will Howard. At 6 foot 3 and 232 pounds, Payton impressed with accurate deep throws during the season

1:03and clocked a 4.56 in. The 40 yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. Meanwhile, Scouts highlight his arm strength and surprising speed, making him a late riser in their eyes despite coming from a smaller program. As the draft nears, keep an eye on Payton. He's jumped into the mix as a real possibility for Pittsburgh's quarterback hunt.