The 2025 NFL Draft isn’t expected to be packed with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some intriguing prospects. One of them is former Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne.
While players like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are getting all the hype, later-round quarterbacks like Thorne haven’t gotten much attention.
How Tall Is Payton Thorne, and How Much Does He Weigh?
Thorne is 6’2″, which puts him solidly in the preferred range of 6’1″ to 6’4″. Players like Russell Wilson, who is 5’11”, have still found success by relying on other skills to move the ball down the field.
Thorne weighs 203 pounds, however, which is less than the typical NFL quarterback’s prototypical weight of around 220 pounds.
How Old Is Thorne?
Thorne is currently 23 years old and will turn 24 on June 26 before the start of the NFL season.
What School Did Thorne Attend?
Thorne is a native of Naperville, Ill., where he attended Naperville Central High School. As a senior, he was named the Chicago Sun-Times and Naperville Sun Player of the Year after passing for 3,113 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Thorne initially committed to Western Michigan University but later switched to Michigan State before transferring to Auburn to play for head coach Hugh Freeze.
Revisiting Thorne’s College Career
Thorne redshirted his first year at Michigan State in 2019. The next season, he played in four games as the backup to Rocky Lombardi.
In 2021, he became the Spartans’ starting quarterback. That season, he completed 234 passes for 3,232 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. In his final season at Michigan State, he again served as the starter, completing 242 passes for 2,679 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Thorne then transferred to Auburn and played his final two seasons under Freeze. In 2023, he completed 162 passes for 1,755 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Last year, he was named the starter but was benched after a Week 2 loss to California. Thorne returned to the starting lineup two weeks later, though, and finished the season with 199 completions for 2,713 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
How Fast Was Thorne’s 40-Yard Dash?
Thorne wasn’t invited to the 2025 NFL Combine, but he did work out at Auburn’s Pro Day. There, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds and posted a broad jump of nine feet, nine inches.
What Is Thorne’s NFL Outlook?
It’s unclear where Thorne will be drafted. PFF ranks him 18th out of 24 quarterbacks in this year’s class. However, late-round quarterbacks have surprised before — just look at Brock Purdy.
Thorne does bring some upside. He’s a decent runner who can handle read-option plays, has good vision, and can adjust when plays break down. He’s been called a “pure athlete, loose-limbed and flexible.”
Thorne makes quick decisions and gets the ball out fast. His long ball isn’t great, but he’s solid on short and intermediate throws. He can extend plays with his feet and be dangerous when scrambling.
Thorne would benefit from adding 10–15 pounds of muscle. Scouts have noted his tendency to fade and throw off his back foot when the pocket collapses. He sometimes sacrifices accuracy for distance, which leads to turnovers.
Thorne will often give up on the play too soon and look for a running lane if his first read isn’t open. To survive at the next level, he’ll need to clean up ball security issues and avoid strip sacks.
Only time will tell if Thorne showed enough at Auburn to hear his name called in the later rounds.
