4 New England Patriots rookies Bill Belichick need to hit on in 2022
New England Patriots second-round pick Tyquan Thornton
Speed, speed, speed. The New England Patriots drafted plenty of it in wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.
But in the NFL, it takes more than blazing speed to be a playmaker, especially in the Patriots’ offense.
Drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, many NFL insiders feel Bill Belichick reached for a player he could’ve selected in a later round, but if the Patriots really like a player, why take a chance he won’t be around by the next time they select?
Related Story. Tyquan Thornton won’t be another Bethel Johnson. light
In Thornton, the Patriots are getting a player who is on the skinny side but did finish his last season at Baylor with 62 receptions for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns. Obviously, the speed and talent is there, but can that translate to anything for Mac Jones who does need a down-the-field target?
It obviously depends on whether Thornton can be more than a one-trick pony. It will also depend on how he can find a way to use his thine body frame as an advantage in the NFL.
"“Just staying true to myself. Just always look at myself in the mirror. It’s my body type. It’s my frame,” Thornton said, when asked if the team gave him a target weight. “I don’t see myself getting 225 pounds. I’ve been thin all my life, but just getting stronger in the weight room. You know, building more muscle so I can have that fast twitch.”"
The combination of speed and strength could turn Tyquan Thornton into an effective playmaker as soon as this season, which would at least prove that Bill Belichick can draft receivers.