Baylor coach Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes had busy phones in the final weeks leading up to the draft. NFL teams seemed to be playing a game of chicken, staring each other down over how high receiver Tyquan Thornton would go.
At least five teams were interested in Thornton in Round 2, according to a league source. Two of them — the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans — went with different receivers at 34th and 44th. The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, went with a safety at No. 48. At that point, Bill Belichick felt could wait no longer. He and the New England Patriots swerved in the game of chicken and traded up in the second round to nab the speedster. The move set off a run with four receivers selected in a five-pick span.
On one hand, Thornton was a physically talented, hardworking and productive receiver who not only logged the fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine (4.28 seconds) but also tore up the Shrine Game, an All-Star game for top draft prospects.
