Payton Thorne’s Surprise Move to Bengals: What This Means for His NFL Future

Here’s the deal—Payton Thorne, once the command behind Michigan State’s offense, is taking his talents to the NFL grind. Though the 2025 Draft didn’t call his name, the Cincinnati Bengals saw enough firepower to lock him in as an undrafted free agent this past Sunday . Thorne’s journey is anything but ordinary—after three solid seasons at Michigan State, where he threw 50 touchdowns and nearly 6,500 yards—and set a school mark with 27 TDs in the Peach Bowl year—he shifted gears, transferring to Auburn for a couple more seasons of starting play. With the Tigers, he kept the momentum rolling, tossing 37 touchdowns in 24 outings. His path to the pros may have detoured, but it’s far from over—and I’m hooked to see how this chapter unfolds. LEARN MOREContact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.After leaving Michigan State, Thorne was primarily a starter at Auburn for the past two seasons. He appeared in 24 games, recording 4,468 yards and 37 touchdown passes.A former Michigan State quarterback is heading to the NFL.

Thorne played three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Auburn in the spring of 2023, where he played a pair of seasons with the Tigers. While with Michigan State, Thorne appeared in 29 games, throwing for nearly 6,500 yards and 50 touchdowns. He threw for 27 touchdowns during Michigan State’s 2021 Peach Bowl season, which is still a school record for touchdown passes in a single season.Former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Thorne went undrafted during the 2025 NFL Draft but reached a deal with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent on Sunday.

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