The Tyquan Thornton Era is officially over in New England, as the Patriots cut the speedy wide receiver early on Saturday morning. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thornton impressed in the pre-draft process with his elite straight-line speed. Former head coach Bill Belichick and de-facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia believed the Baylor product could be the perfect fit for their reinvented offense and selected him with the 50th pick in the draft.
Unfortunately, Thornton never made the most of his athletic talents. The rookie recorded just 22 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns during his first season in the league, and that ended up being his best season in New England. Following an injury-plagued 2023 which saw him record just 13 receptions for 91 yards, Thornton entered the 2024 training camp fighting for his job. While his offseason work earned him a Week 1 starting job, he couldn’t bring his August success into the regular season, recording just four receptions for 47 yards and no touchdowns.
Tyquan Thornton didn’t work out in New England, but this cut shouldn’t be the end of the road for him. Someone will take a chance on the former Day 2 pick, as his vertical speed is a legitimate threat at the NFL level. Seeing as he’s still on his rookie contract and won’t carry a large cap hit, these five teams could bring him in.
Patriots are releasing 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, per source. pic.twitter.com/7ofxNS4Kij
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2024
5 Teams That Could Claim Tyquan Thornton After Unceremonious Cut
Miami Dolphins
If anyone knows how to get the most out of speedy players, it’s Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. While the offense hasn’t played up to its usual potential in 2024, there is no denying the game-breaking abilities this unit possesses. Jaylen Waddle isn’t going anywhere, but superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill isn’t getting any younger. Now playing in his age-30 season, the eight-time Pro Bowler is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Tyquan Thornton won’t ever match Hill’s production, but the team could bring him in and see what the cut wideout can do in an offense that better suits his skills.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers struck gold with second-round pick Ladd McConkey, and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston is showing some life of his own. However, the Chargers don’t have a proven option beyond those two, and Thornton could fight for a job here. Head coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the ball, and a strong run game works better when teams cannot stack the box. Thornton might not be the most polished receiver, but his deep speed could prevent opposing defenses from playing safeties close to the line of scrimmage.
Kansas City Chiefs
The DeAndre Hopkins trade solves Kansas City’s immediate need at wide receiver, but they could still use more help. First-round pick Xavier Worthy has had some explosive plays, but the Texas product has not been consistent in the receiving game. The Chiefs originally signed veteran free agent Marquise Brown to be the short-term speed threat in this offense, and Thornton could fill a similar role. Patrick Mahomes throws a beautiful deep ball, so perhaps he can unlock a part of Tyquan Thornton that Mac Jones and Jacoby Brissett couldn’t.
Pittsburgh Steelers
At 7-2, the Pittsburgh Steelers control their playoff destiny with Russell Wilson and Mike Tomlin leading the way. Moving on from Kenny Pickett was the best thing that could happen to this team, but they still need more firepower to go blow-for-blow with elite AFC competition. Sunday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens will be a true test for this team, but regardless of the outcome, their receiver depth chart needs more work. George Pickens and the recently acquired Mike Williams are the only reliable players on the roster, and Tyquan Thornton could cut out a spot for himself ahead of guys like Van Jefferson.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are not ready to compete, but they found a few potential building blocks for their inevitable rebuild. Rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette and undrafted free agent Jalen Coker are both playing good football, as is tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. These three should help whoever the quarterback is in 2025, but they still need a speed threat. Tyquan Thornton might never live up to his draft capital, but it can’t hurt to bring him in and see what he can do in the back half of a lost season.
Main Photo: Katie Stratman – USA Today Sports
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