Payton Thorne NFL Draft Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 lbs.
School: Michigan State
2023 NFL Draft: Payton Thorne Scouting Report
Payton Thorne entered Michigan State as a redshirted freshman and left as a three-year letter winner. He joined the Spartans in 2019 and did not see playing time until the 2020 season when he came off the bench for three of the four games he played.
Thorne went 48-of-85 in passing for 582 yards with a 145.5-yard per game average. In the four games he played, he made 25 rush attempts totaling 47 yards with one touchdown. Thorne made his first start against Penn State, passing for 325 yards and three touchdowns. This broke the record for most passing yards by a Spartan quarterback in his first start, previously held by Ed Smith with 324 in 1976.
The Academic All-Big Ten honoree had a record-setting sophomore season leading the Spartans to an 11-2 record and improving their national ranking to the top 10 in college football. Thorne set a single-season record for the most touchdown passes by a Spartan quarterback with 27, breaking Kirk Cousins former record of 25.
As a single-season leader in total offense with 3,414 yards, Thorne threw for 27 touchdowns, rushed for four, and threw 10 interceptions. This breakout season put Thorne in the top-25 for FBS passing leaders earning honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades.
Thorne continued his positive trajectory, starting all 12 games as a red-shirt Junior. The Spartans named him team captain for the second consecutive season. He finished the year with a 62.5 completion rating in passes, throwing for 2,679 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Strengths
- Athletic build with room to grow. Pocket presence and a threat when mobile
- Must be accounted for in the read-option game
- NFL arm. Able to make quick decisions to get the ball out early and accurately in tight windows
- Quick release and placement allowing receivers to run after the catch
- Prototypical modern quarterback build
Weaknesses
- When forced to hold the ball too long he panics
- Hit-or-miss mechanics
- An inconsistent stride that affects accuracy
- Needs development in processing coverage types and running a multi-progression passing game
NFL Comparison: Athletic Sam Bradford
Teams With Need at Position: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets
Projection: UDFA
Bottom Line on Payton Thorne
Payton Thorne is a developmental quarterback. He is not prepared to be an NFL starter but he could fit as a backup for a few different teams. Thorne is going to continue to progress as his career continues because he has the physical attributes teams desire in the quarterback position.
He needs to add on a few pounds of muscle during the off-season and hone in on his accuracy to prepare as a second option. His comfort in the pocket is something that can be adjusted at the next level and he can step in as a pass-first option in the Wildcat offense because of his strong arm and ability to get downfield when the pocket collapses. Thorne is not one of the top prospects in his class but he will get picked up and could potentially be a starter in two seasons with the right training.
Main Image: Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
