New England Patriots: 3 intriguing receivers to watch during training camp
New England Patriots have electrifying speed in Tyquan Thornton
Top draft picks are always fun to watch during training camp, but when it is a wide receiver selected high in the draft by Bill Belichick the spotlight shines brighter.
With blazing fast speed, second-round pick Tyquan Thornton could either be the next Bethel Johnson or Chad Jackson or perhaps Belichick hit on a receiver. Out to prove he’s more than a one-trick pony, Thornton brings the type of speed the Patriots are looking for on the outside, but there is more to the rookie wide receiver says draft analyst E.J. Snyder.
During an appearance on the “1st and Foxborough” podcast, Snyder gave Patriots fans something else to get excited about when it comes to Thornton and that is his toughness.
Despite his slender build, there is some dog in the latest Patriots top rookie receiver and during the dog days of August, you should be paying attention.
"“We got to see a lot of him during Shrine Bowl Week,” Synder said, as transcribed by WEEI. “very slightly built athlete, especially from the waist down. Very, very thin, and he wasn’t the only one like there. …And automatically your brain starts saying, ‘Okay, he’s fast. He’s got pretty good hands. He’s not going to be a great contested catcher. He just doesn’t have the girth to go up against more physical defensive backs.’ “Baloney. Tyquan Thornton is a dog with the ball in the air. I was really surprised by that in his game because his frame doesn’t really belie that. But in drills, he didn’t give an inch to anybody, and he won most of those jump balls.”"
While the N’Keal Harry saga will give Patriots fans cause to pause when it comes to wide receivers taken high in the draft, Thornton could be a winner. With his speed and toughness on the outside, he at least gives Mac Jones an intriguing target down-the-field.
In fact, if the quarterback and receiver form chemistry in training camp, this could be an electrifying combo. But it does start in training camp and all eyes are on Tyquan Thornton.