Speed Unleashed: Patriots Counting On WR Tyquan Thornton's Second-Season Leap?
To re-energize a lethargic offense that kept them from making the playoffs last season, we expected - demanded? - the New England Patriots to select at least one primo prospect receiver among their 12 picks in last week's NFL Draft.
Because they didn't take a receiver - LSU's Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas of Liberty - until the sixth round at overall picks No. 187 and 210, they are being roundly and deservedly criticized by ESPN and various draft experts.
The Patriots, of course, have a murky history of drafting receivers. N'Keal Harry (2019), Aaron Dobson (2013), Chad Jackson (2006) and Bethel Johnson (2003) just roll off the tongue at this point. But with only the addition of long-shot rookies - Boutte has talent but major character issues; Douglas is a third-down slot specialist, at best - how is the offense going to improve in 2023?
Bill O'Brien instead of Matt Patricia as play-caller. JuJu Smith-Schuster in place of Jakobi Meyers as WR1. And, oh, what about last year's draft?
Included among the frustrations of 2022 were quarterback Mac Jones' drastic regression from a Pro Bowl rookie season and receiver Kendrick Bourne's production sliding from 55 catches and five touchdowns to only 35 and one. But the biggest mystery may have come with a player the Pats actually traded up to draft a year ago: Tyquan Thornton.
The epitome of Patricia's pratfall, the speedy second-round rookie from Baylor dazzled in his second game in the NFL, and then virtually vanished. He suffered a collar bone injury in preseason that delayed his debut, but in Week 6 at Cleveland he scored two touchdowns - one receiving and one rushing.
In fact, in the blowout win over the Browns Thornton got three hand-offs - producing 19 yards and a touchdown - but none the rest of the season. He was a non-factor the rest of the way, finishing with only 22 catches for 247 yards and two scores.
Despite his blazing speed, Thornton's longest catch of the season was 29 yards.
In a recent article, ESPN labeled Thornton as a "winner" in the 2023 draft because New England's reluctance to take a receiver meant it is counting on him to elevate his game.
Wrote ESPN:
Thornton looks to be heading toward more meaningful snaps. Despite suggestions the Patriots would look to target a wide receiver in Round 1, coach Bill Belichick passed on Jaxon Smith-Njigba to select cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Belichick didn’t draft a wideout until Round 6, when he used a pair of selections on Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas. As the speediest wide receiver on New England’s roster, Thornton will undoubtedly have a role as the designated deep threat. There’s still some veteran flotsam in the way of every-down work, most notably DeVante Parker, whose $5.7 million base salary is not guaranteed. Kendrick Bourne, who the organization seemed to sour on in 2022, is also out of guaranteed money. If the Pats cut either player in camp, Thornton would be in line to benefit.
The Patriots clearly need their receiving corps to be better this season because of the draft. The 2022 draft, that is.
Follow Richie Whitt on Twitter
Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here
More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.
