Payton Thorne
Payton Thorne  QB  Auburn | NFL Draft 2025 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Payton Thorne
Height
6-2
Weight
203
College
Auburn
Position
QB
Class
Senior
Home town
Naperville, IL
54.0/100
Player Rating
54
PositionRank (QB)
4.65
FortyYD Time
QB Rating
98.3
YDS
1238
Comp %
59.7
TDS
10
INTs
6
Rush AVG
2.7

Payton Thorne QB Auburn | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Payton Thorne QB Auburn
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.65 seconds (84%*)
Age: 23.3 DOB: 06/26/2001
Measurables:
Height: 6-2 (33%*) Weight: 203 (5%*)
Forty: 4.65 (O) (84%*) Shuttle: 4.21 (HS) (75%*)
Vertical: 29 (HS) (17%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.65 seconds (84%*)
Age: 23.3 DOB: 06/26/2001
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-2 (33%*) Weight: 203 (5%*)
Forty: 4.65 (O) (84%*) Shuttle: 4.21 (HS) (75%*)
Vertical: 29 (HS) (17%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 54.0 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
76%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Release Speed:
75%
Short Passing:
63%
Medium Passing:
71%
Long Passing:
69%
Rush/Scramble:
64%
DRAFT PROJECTION: UDFA
Overall Rank: #531 Position rank: #54
College Games: 47 College Snaps: 2771
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 74/100
College Combine Results
OVR Rank: #166 Pos Rank: #44 State Rank: #29
College Combine Results
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 87 Stars 247 RATING: 87/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Spencer Sanders - Ole Miss
82%
Ian Book - Notre Dame
80%
Chris Oladokun - South Dakota State
79%
Draft Profile: Bio
Payton Thorne from Naperville Central High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. After high school, Thorne opted to join Michigan State.

In 2020 as a freshman Thorne saw action in 4 games for the Spartans as he threw for 582 yards on 86 attempts with a completion percent of 57 for an average of 6.8 yards per pass, with just 3 TDs, while taking 7 sacks, and QB rating of 74.9.

In 2021 as a sophomore he played in 13 games as he passed for an outstanding 3226 yards on 390 attempts with a completion percent of 60.3 for an average of 8.3 yards per pass, with an impressive 27 TDs, while also taking 23 sacks, and putting up an excellent QB rating of 99.2. He made 72 runs for a total of 298 yards at an average of 4.1 per rush.

As a junior in 2022 Thorne played a total of 12 games. He passed for 2679 yards on 390 attempts and put up a completion percentage of 62.1 for an average of 6.9 yards per attempt, with 19 TDs, and allowing 19 sacks, with QB rating on the year of 86.9. As a runner he logged 45 runs for a total of 180 yards at an average of 4.0 per run.

After season's end Thorne transferred to Auburn where as a senior Thorne saw action in 12 games as he threw for 1671 yards on 239 attempts with a completion percent of 62.3 for an average of 7.0 yards per pass, with 15 TDs, while taking 29 sacks, and totaling a QB rating of 88.4. He added 104 runs for a total of 666 yards at an average of 6.4 per run.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • He’s good enough as a runner to work read-option plays, keeping back-side defenders in place.
  • Sees the field very well when the play breaks down and occasionally changes plays at the line.
  • Good zip and ball placement on the quick slant. Good touch down the seam and on post-corner, flag routes to attack the defense vertically and horizontally.
  • He’s a pure athlete, loose-limbed and flexible. Thorne has the speed to pick up yardage in scramble situations.
  • Gets the ball out quickly, making ·splitsecond decisions. Good short to intermediate level accuracy, demonstrating the ball placement to allow receivers to run after the catch.
  • Athletic build with plenty of room for another 10-15 pounds of muscle mass. Mobile quarterback who can buy time in the pocket and is a threat to gain yards with his feet.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Thorne has a bad habit of fading and throwing off his back foot when the pocket gets muddled, and Thorne is too often all arm when throwing on the move, sacrificing accuracy.
  • He’s far too quick to lower his eyes and look for a running lane after moving off his first read (too many plays in college that won’t translate to the NFL).
  • Thorne tends to hold the ball loosely and away from his body, putting him at risk for strip sacks.

Payton Thorne percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)

How other scouting services rate Payton Thorne (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
503.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
40.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.