Nick Sirianni’s comments reveal why Eagles were sold on Cole Payton

The easy takeaway is the wrong one. Yes, Cole Payton is athletic. Yes, he can run.

Yes, there are highlight-reel plays where he looks like the best player on the field. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said the same thing, but if you listen closely, that’s not the part that matters most. At the time of this story's creation and release, the Eagles hadn't even started rookie minicamp yet.

Still, imaginative football fans have daydreamed about everything from preseason games to what Payton might look like in some sort of Taysom Hill role. After his selection and the official introduction of Philadelphia's eight-man draft class , Coach Sirianni's words about the young gunslinger during a post-draft press conference still ring true. "(He's) really, really athletic.

(He's) really good with the ball in his hands in the QB run game. Makes great decisions with the football, accurate passer, 72%t last year as a starter. You can't do that unless you make some good throws and go to the right place with the ball.