10 Patriots Entering Their Final Season With New England

2. Tyquan Thornton, WR

One of New England's most obvious priorities this offseason was chasing a proven top wide receiver to lead this group in 2024 and beyond. The Pats did almost everything they could to sign Calvin Ridley, but he ultimately chose the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Then they made a run at Brandon Aiyuk, but he spurned them to re-sign in San Francisco.

Even if they struck out this year, it's clear big moves are coming to the WR room, and that's bad news for Tyquan Thornton.

The former Baylor standout is on the verge of becoming a certified draft bust after the Patriots selected him in the second round in 2022. He put up an unremarkable 22-247-3 line as a rookie, though he flashed some dynamic playmaking potential.

Yet, he took a major step back as a sophomore (13-91-0) while he saw several members of his draft class ascend to new heights. Even worse, he struggled to be on the field for New England, suiting up in just nine games last season after seeing 13 games in his first year.

Mayo and company know they need to raise the talent level at this position, so anyone not performing is squarely on the chopping block. Considering how little of an impact Thornton's made, that paves the way for his exit if his struggles continue.