Grading the Patriots drafting Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton

The New England Patriots are taking another swing at the speedy, outside receiver that they have lacked for so many years. Basically, they haven’t had that guy since Brandin Cooks and Randy Moss.

No one expects the Patriots’ second-round pick Tyquan Thornton to be Moss. But maybe he can be the player that Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry were not. Maybe with a year to serve as DeVante Parker’s understudy, Thornton can be a WR1 in 2023. Surely, that’s what the Patriots are hoping by grabbing the speedster receiver in the second round after trading up to get him.

The first thing that stands out with Thornton is his measurements. He’s 6-foot-2, 180 pounds — on the lanky side — but he can absolutely fly, with the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine (4.28 seconds). His 3-cone drill underwhelmed (7.25 seconds), which is interesting — because that’s usually the Patriots’ favorite barometer for receivers. But there’s no doubt that he’s explosive. He’s also not just a measurables guy. He put up impressive production at Baylor in 2021: 62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns.

So you’re thinking: What’s the problem? There’s always a problem with the player if he falls to Round 2.

Well, you’re right. His skinny frame creates concerns about whether he’ll struggle against press coverage in the NFL. His unimpressive 3-cone supports evidence that he’s sometimes sloppy or slow in changing directions with his routes. That’s why ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Thornton as a fourth-rounder, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had the receiver as a fifth-rounder and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein figured Thornton would land in Round 3 or 4.

So in Round 2? That’s a surprise.

It was the same story with New England’s first-round pick, Chattanooga guard Cole Strange. Both picks felt like a reaches.

But here’s the bottom line: New England needed speed, and it got it. Thornton will contribute as a special teams player and develop, in theory, into the kind of weapon the Patriots have so desperately lacked in recent years. There’s tremendous risk with Thornton. If he can’t figure out how to beat press coverage, he’s in trouble. But that’s the type of player the Patriots like to chase in Round 2. Big risk. Big reward.

That’s why I’ll give this pick a C+. I like what the Patriots were thinking. I just worry he’s nothing but speed.

It will be fascinating to see how Thornton’s career stacks up with the receivers who were picked almost immediately after him: the Steelers’ George Pickens, the Colts’ Alec Pierce and the Chiefs’ Skyy Moore.

List

Draft pundits analyze Patriots selecting Cole Strange at 29th overall