- Watched: Purdue, Maryland (2017), Duke (2017), Penn State (2017)
- Pros:
- Compact fundamentals, almost to a fault; looks too rigid at times
- Good velocity when he needs it
- Physically strong and mobile
- Shows flashes of making full-field reads
- Shows a willingness to step up in the pocket at times
- Pretty accurate when in a clean pocket
- Reporting praised in scouting circles for his personality and ability to gel with teammates
- Cons:
- Accuracy in general is very sporadic
- Moves around too much; has a tendency to flee the pocket too early
- Willingness to fit balls into tight windows combined with poor ball placement results in too many turnovers
- Struggles when pressure comes
- While he can throw with velocity, he struggles throwing for distance
- General:
- Supporting cast definitely holds him back to an extent
- Four-year starter
- Overall Take:
- Pro-readiness: 5th (out of 6)
- Potential: 5th
- Overall: 5th
- Number Grade (out of 100): 73
- Clayton Thorson is a prospect that I really wanted to like. I started watching him a couple years ago when his name was floated as a potential 1st round pick in the future. He did show promise, but he was very rough around the edges back then, and I do not believe he’s shown the kind of progress that you’d like to see from a four-year starter. In 2017, his adjusted completion percentage when kept clean was very impressive. Of the 16 QBs I scouted for the 2018 and 2019 drafts, Thorson ranked 4th in adjusted completion percentage when kept clean, ahead of guys like Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Ryan Finley, and Mason Rudolph (Justin Herbert was not included in these numbers). As a result, there is some potential there that if you can put him in a better situation than what he’s had at Northwestern, that perhaps you’ll get results. He has the arm strength. He has the athleticism. He reportedly has the intangibles from those that have interviewed him/people around him. I would guess we ultimately see him go in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft depending on who decides to return to school. If guys like Justin Herbert and Dwayne Haskins return, it could push a prospect like Thorson up.
- Most Likely Comp: Josh McCown
- Peak Comp: Poor Man’s Alex Smith
Draft QBs 