The New England Patriots traded up in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft to select Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton. The Patriots gave up Nos. 54 and 158 in exchange for 50th overall.
He finished his 2021 season at Baylor with 62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound wideout can absolutely fly, with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash. He also flashed his explosiveness with an 10-foot-9-inch broad jump, which was sixth-best among receivers at the combine.
Thornton joins guard Cole Strange as the top picks for the Patriots in this year’s draft class. Both selections have received mixed criticisms. On one hand, Strange (a Day 1 starter at guard) and Thornton (a developmental speedster at receiver) make sense for New England. On the other hand, most draft analysts pegged Strange as a likely second or third-rounder and Thornton as a likely third- or fourth-rounder.
But Bill Belichick will be the first to tell you that he doesn’t care about media rankings.
