{"id":154259,"date":"2026-02-19T14:33:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T14:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154259"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T14:33:15","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-report-an-nfl-insider-just-dropped-a-bombshell-that-could-completely-shift-the-dolphins-quarterback-search-a-revelation-stirring-urgency-inside-miamis-front-office-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154259","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 REPORT AN NFL INSIDER JUST DROPPED A BOMBSHELL THAT COULD COMPLETELY SHIFT THE DOLPHINS\u2019 QUARTERBACK SEARCH, a revelation stirring urgency inside Miami\u2019s front office and sending fans into instant speculation mode as the offseason suddenly takes a sharp turn. \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"NorthNorth Dakota State QB Cole Payton | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Miami Dolphins are hunting up a new quarterback this offseason, as\u00a0Tua Tagovailoa’s departure is all but a stone-cold certainty.<\/p>\n

While Green Bay Packers backup\u00a0Malik Willis makes the most sense, given his ties to new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley, it’s not a slam dunk. Miami has some serious salary cap demons to negotiate before it’s feasible to pay Willis enough.<\/p>\n

Those cost-cutting measures are well underway, but if the Dolphins anticipate a full teardown anyway, why not look to the 2026 NFL Draft for a sleeper QB of the future?<\/p>\n

Quinn Ewers may prove to be that as a seventh-round pick from last year. However, Sullivan could hedge his bets with another 2026 prospect who’s gaining serious steam.<\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins must pay attention to FCS star creating serious buzz as potential second QB selected in 2026 NFL Draft<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to\u00a0NFL insider Jason La Canfora, North Dakota State’s Cole Payton could be the second QB off the board behind expected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza:<\/p>\n

Here’s what La Canfora had to say about Payton’s exploding stock, via SportsBoom:<\/p>\n

“[Payton] is creating a strong buzz in the scouting community with multiple trusted personnel executives assuring me they have a high second-round grade on Payton and believe he is firmly the second-best talent at the quarterback position in this draft. Payton is only a one-year starter, and at an FBS school at that, but his athletic traits have continued to impress, he has ideal size at 6-3, 220 pounds, and proven evaluators with a track record of sizing up quarterbacks have been raving to us privately about him for months.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, it’s worth noting that the top draft picks who preceded Payton from the FCS powerhouse program didn’t fare so well. I mean, Carson Wentz\u00a0did<\/em>\u00a0have one MVP-caliber season cut short by an injury and was never the same after that. Trey Lance was just wildly overdrafted at No. 3 overall.<\/p>\n

But from what I’ve seen, and from what these sources tell La Canfora, Payton is almost the best blend of Wentz and Lance. His size and arm strength are on par with Wentz’s. His athleticism and status as a one-year starter mirror Lance’s prospect profile.<\/p>\n

Adam Carter, who works in player personnel for the University of San Diego’s football team, is bullish on Payton \u2014 even going as far as to say he’s the QB1 in this class over Mendoza.<\/p>\n