Tyquan Thornton is turning heads at Chiefs camp and JuJu’s all in

Tyquan Thornton is in good hands.

Not only are the Kansas City Chiefs providing an ideal place for the speedy wide receiver to try to make an impact as a late-bloomer in the NFL, but they've given him an ideal leader suited to the task in the team's WR room in JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Thornton has impressed the Chiefs in offseason training activities and training camp with his elite athleticism and hard work on the field. The buzz around Thornton has made him a dark horse candidate to make the active roster in late August. At the very least, he will make any decisions tough on the Chiefs' coaching staff.

Thornton is a former second-round choice of the New England Patriots—taken shortly before the Chiefs selected Skyy Moore out of Western Michigan—in the 2022 NFL Draft. Thornton found himself in an ever-declining role over the course of his three seasons in Foxborough, and the Patriots finally decided to move on before his rookie deal was expired.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is relishing the leadership role given to him by the Chiefs.

The Chiefs offered Thornton a change of scenery in February, and he's been one of the most talked-about players on the roster ever since. One of those singing his praises is Smith-Schuster, an elder statesman in the Chiefs young wide receiver room.

"Tyquan has come a long way, man. He's a guy who can stretch the field and even be physical too ... Pat loves a guy who can run, and Tyquan, he can run. He can run for days," said Smith-Schuster following training camp practice on Wednesday.

"He's going out there. He's making plays. He's showing up in camp. I think he's having a great camp as far as our receiver room. Every single day, he's always asking questions, trying to get the knowledge of the game and how he can be better. He's always improving. So, I'm super excited for him to be a part of the team this year."

The leadership mantle is something that Smith-Schuster is taking quite seriously. The team has identified the former Pittsburgh Steelers draft choice as the leader at the position, and Smith-Schuster says he's relishing the chance to influence others.

"It's a huge responsibility. I take it pretty seriously. We've got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages. For me, it's a big responsibility I take full control of. I think I lead not just by my words but by my actions. Like I said, there's a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone's coachable, so I'm glad to take that responsibility."

Given that other primary targets like Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, and others are all on their first NFL contracts, having someone like Smith-Schuster is a big boost. Thornton is also going to benefit from his presence, and it sounds as if the former Patriot already has a fan in Smith-Schuster.