You don't take Cole Payton if Stafford is retiring. And we better know what Stafford's plans are before FA and the Draft. You take Cole Payton if Stafford is planning to play another year or two. He's a project. What I like about him is he's 6'2+" 230 with 10+ inch mitts, 4.5/4.6 speed, and a strong arm. He needs to clean up his throwing motion, and he is not at all ready to start in the NFL. But he has the size, strength, mobility, and arm talent to be a starting QB. Does he have the instincts, processing ability, and football IQ? That is the question. But at the right place in the Draft, I'm good with us taking the shot.
P.S. In addition to the 16 passing TDs, he had 13 rushing TDs. Rushing TDs count for the same amount of points as passing TDs.
One thing I'm now seeing that makes his Senior Bowl performance more impressive for me is that he suffered a bad break to his thumb on his throwing hand and had surgery to fix it in December. That's not an easy injury to come back from on a quick turnaround. Takes some balls to go out there and compete. Intriguing option.
Yes, that cannot be ignored, however, when concerned with one’s ability to play the QB position, seeing only 3 more passing TDs than rushing TDs is actually more concerning than not.