Patriots Roster Breakdown: Can Tyquan Thornton Breakout?

Thornton struggled to stay healthy once again in 2023. He suffered a shoulder injury in joint practices with the Green Bay Packers. This landed him on injured reserve to begin the season once again. He ended up appearing in only nine games. Thornton finished his second season with 13 receptions (on 23 targets) for 91 yards and no scores.

Tyquan Thornton has yet to become the deep threat the Patriots envisioned when using a Top 50 selection to bring him to New England. George Pickens (No. 52, PIT), Alec Pierce (No. 53, IND), Romeo Doubs (No. 132, GB), and Khalil Shakir (No. 148, BUF) are among the wide receivers from the Class of 2022 selected after Thornton who have outperformed him to date.

Contract Status

Tyquan Thornton has two years remaining on his rookie contract with the Patriots. The remaining years are worth a total of $4,168,190 but there is no guaranteed money remaining.

Wide Receiver Group

The New England Patriots wide receiver group has quantity but lacks top-end quality, at least based on their recent production. In addition to Tyquan Thornton, the unit features Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, T.J. Luther, and Kawaan Baker.

Outlook for Tyquan Thornton

The Patriots hope Tyquan Thornton can still live up to the promise he showed at Baylor in 2021 and during the preseason as a rookie before his injuries began. Thornton does not turn 24 until August, making him younger than several of the 2024 NFL Draft prospects, despite playing four years in college and two in the NFL.

There is no question Thornton has been a disappointment for New England thus far. In 22 NFL games, he has 35 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Based on social media posts this offseason, Thornton has been putting in work with Bourne, Douglas, and quarterback Bailey Zappe this offseason. He is working to get stronger. Staying healthy and available heading into the season would be a great start to season three.

Tyquan Thornton is still young, talented, and cost-effective to keep on the roster. If he fails to impress in training camp, the New England Patriots can waive him. His selection can be attributed to Bill Belichick’s regime in Foxboro and the team can move on without him. But Thornton has an opportunity to still make his mark in New England. Nobody should be throwing in the towel on a 23-year-old prospect with speed and playmaking potential that the Patriots’ roster could use.