2019 NFL Draft: Clayton Thorson is Blake Bortles 2.0

Clayton Thorson has the look of a future pro quarterback but his place in the 2019 NFL draft is still undetermined given his scouting report.

Position: QB

School: Northwestern

Year: Senior

Height: 6’4

Weight: 227 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• One look at the body and you know he can play in the NFL. He’s got height but also bulk, proving he should be able to handle the physicality.
• Arm strength won’t be a problem. He can throw the ball with significant velocity, fitting it into tight windows before the defense can react.
• Is able to vary the speeds on his throws depending on the type. He’s not just a fireballer. He can put some loft on the ball to get it over a defender who might be in the passing lane.
• When he has a clean pocket his accuracy and ball placement are top notch. When pressured he can still get the ball where it needs to be too. 
• Doesn’t seem overly phased by the blitz. Keeps his eyes down the field and gets the ball out to the hot receiver before the pressure gets home.

This is great execution gives the situation. It’s late in the game. The offense is trying to put it away. One more big play might do it. On 3rd and 7 Thorson shows no fear in the face of a blitz, firing the ball down the field to a well-covered receiver right on the money. His mechanics are smooth and the ball was placed where only his guy had a shot at it. The play led to the clinching score that gave his team the win.

• Though big he shows solid mobility. Not only can he move around in the pocket but he can take off and run if needed. A threat to be taken seriously on run-pass options.
• The processor is fairly quick. Shows an ability to go through his progressions and find the open receiver when he’s able to settle himself down.
• Solid survival skill. When things aren’t going well and he’s being pressured a lot, he shows some improvisational ability and can make a play happen from time to time.

WEAKNESSES:

• Like any quarterback with a strong arm, he tends to get a bit too cocky with his decision-making. This leads to throws off the back foot and in double coverages. Hence his interception issues.
• While he can handle occasional pressure, he starts to lose poise and accuracy when he’s frequently pressured. Mechanics get lazy and the ball tends to sail on him.
• His deep ball is surprisingly inconsistent despite his strong arm. Tends to struggle on the vertical routes up the sideline where he’ll throw either too far inside or too far outside.
• Sometimes can get uncomfortable in the pocket, looking to abandon it too soon despite strong initial protection. Can get happy feet at times.
• While his processor may be quick, his internal clock is spotty. Sometimes doesn’t sense the pressure well, leading to a strip sack or erratic throw while being hit.

Pro Comparison:  Blake Bortles

Bortles shot up draft boards because of his excellent size, strong arm, and tendency to deliver in big moments. He also had issues with accuracy at times, tended to get a little too careless with the ball and doesn’t handle pressure too well when he sees it a lot. Thorson from the body type to his throwing style has a ton in common with the Jacksonville Jaguars starter. Unfortunately that might end up hurting his draft stock more than help it.

Projection:  3rd Round

Thorson has plenty of potential to be a good NFL quarterback. Size, arm strength, mobility and a cool head in big games are all things teams will like. The big question is whether he can cure his issues with handling pressure and can keep from getting lazy in his mechanics. Such things depend entirely on the player and how he matures. That’s why teams will be cautious on where they draft him.