Tag: Tyquan Thornton

What draft analysts are saying about Patriots selecting WR Tyquan Thornton 50th overall

Several reactions poured in as the Patriots drafted Tyquan Thornton

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With the 50th overall pick in the second round, the New England Patriots selected wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. Thornton comes to New England by way of Baylor, where he put up 10 receiving touchdowns in the 2021 season.

Thornton gives the Patriots a potential speed threat at the wide receiver position, something that could help quarterback Mac Jones. With New England needing an outside threat, Thornton has the potential to be the answer in that department.

With New England selecting their pick, draft pundits from several media entities reacted to the selection. Here are just some of the many that circulated throughout the night.

Twitter has mixed reactions to Patriots selecting WR Tyquan Thornton

Twitter had varying reactions to the Patriots second round draft pick.

The New England Patriots selected Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton with the 50th overall pick in the second round. The Patriots gave up a fifth-round pick to trade up four spots in the second round to get the receiver.

Last season, he was able to catch 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns. Posting the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, he brings an element of speed to the New England passing game as they look to reshape the wide receiver room.

All over Twitter, reactions were varied as drafting wide receivers was a theme of the second round. We take a look at some of the best reactions to the pick.

Grading the Patriots drafting Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton

The Patriots have a developmental WR. Can he be WR1 by 2023?

The New England Patriots are taking another swing at the speedy, outside receiver that they have lacked for so many years. Basically, they haven’t had that guy since Brandin Cooks and Randy Moss.

No one expects the Patriots’ second-round pick Tyquan Thornton to be Moss. But maybe he can be the player that Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry were not. Maybe with a year to serve as DeVante Parker’s understudy, Thornton can be a WR1 in 2023. Surely, that’s what the Patriots are hoping by grabbing the speedster receiver in the second round after trading up to get him.

The first thing that stands out with Thornton is his measurements. He’s 6-foot-2, 180 pounds — on the lanky side — but he can absolutely fly, with the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine (4.28 seconds). His 3-cone drill underwhelmed (7.25 seconds), which is interesting — because that’s usually the Patriots’ favorite barometer for receivers. But there’s no doubt that he’s explosive. He’s also not just a measurables guy. He put up impressive production at Baylor in 2021: 62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns.

So you’re thinking: What’s the problem? There’s always a problem with the player if he falls to Round 2.

Well, you’re right. His skinny frame creates concerns about whether he’ll struggle against press coverage in the NFL. His unimpressive 3-cone supports evidence that he’s sometimes sloppy or slow in changing directions with his routes. That’s why ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Thornton as a fourth-rounder, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had the receiver as a fifth-rounder and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein figured Thornton would land in Round 3 or 4.

So in Round 2? That’s a surprise.

It was the same story with New England’s first-round pick, Chattanooga guard Cole Strange. Both picks felt like a reaches.

But here’s the bottom line: New England needed speed, and it got it. Thornton will contribute as a special teams player and develop, in theory, into the kind of weapon the Patriots have so desperately lacked in recent years. There’s tremendous risk with Thornton. If he can’t figure out how to beat press coverage, he’s in trouble. But that’s the type of player the Patriots like to chase in Round 2. Big risk. Big reward.

That’s why I’ll give this pick a C+. I like what the Patriots were thinking. I just worry he’s nothing but speed.

It will be fascinating to see how Thornton’s career stacks up with the receivers who were picked almost immediately after him: the Steelers’ George Pickens, the Colts’ Alec Pierce and the Chiefs’ Skyy Moore.

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Packers like Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton as potential Day 2 target

The Packers think Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton has a “high ceiling” as a potential replacement for Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

A speedy pass-catcher from Baylor could be a primary target for the Green Bay Packers on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Packers want to add speed after losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling and believe Thornton – who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds at the combine – has a “high ceiling” after doing extensive homework on him during the pre-draft process.

Thornton visited Green Bay on a Top 30 visit.

Over four seasons at Baylor, Thornton caught 143 passes for 2,242 yards and 19 touchdowns. He blew up as a senior in 2021, catching 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns, including seven receptions of at least 40 yards. He finished his collegiate career averaging 15.7 yards per catch.

Thornton is rail-thin at 181 pounds and has small hands (8 1/4″), but he also stands over 6-2 and is the fastest player in the draft. He’s one of the quickest, too: His 10-yard split was a blazing 1.41 seconds, meaning he’s getting to top speed in a hurry. He also doesn’t turn 22 until August. Although most view him as an early Day 3 selection, the Packers could pounce on Day 2 if they feel the speed and upside is intriguing enough in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

Thornton’s Relative Athletic Score was 9.77, meaning he’s in the 97th percentile in size and athleticism among receivers entering the NFL.

According to Pro Football Focus, Thornton caught nine passes thrown over 20 yards in 2021. His average depth of target was over 15 yards, and he had just three drops.

The Packers need to replace Valdes-Scantling’s speed and big-play ability. Thornton, who has the length and speed of MVS, could be an ideal option on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft.

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Final Tennessee Titans 7-round mock draft with a trade back

For the final time before the 2022 NFL draft, Shaun Calderon is dropping a seven-round Titans mock that features a trade out of the first round.

We are just days away from the Tennessee Titans making their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and there is about as much uncertainty around the NFL as ever before.

Usually by now we at least know who the first overall pick of the draft will be; however, this year even that is up for a valid debate as of right now.

The Titans enter the draft owning seven selections, including the 26th pick, which could be used on a handful of different players. Another avenue the Titans could explore is trading back and acquiring an extra pick or two depending on how far they decide to go.

In this particular mock, I traded out of the first round and gave up the right to a future fifth-year option in order to collect an extra premium pick. The trade values were based on the modern-day version of Jimmy Johnson’s infamous draft pick value chart.

Having said all that, let’s take a closer look at how this scenario plays out in my final mock draft that involves a trade back.

Denver Broncos pre-draft visit tracker

The list of prospects who have visited the Broncos ahead of the NFL draft includes OT Matt Waletzko, RB James Cook and OLB Nik Bonitto.
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Each offseason, NFL teams are allowed to host 30 non-local prospects at their facilities ahead of the NFL draft. We will be tracking the Denver Broncos’ top 30 visits on this page.

Broncos Pre-Draft Visits

1. RB Shermari Jones
2. RB James Cook
3. RB Isaih Pacheco
4. RB Zamir White
5. OT Tyler Smith
6. OT Abraham Lucus
7. OT Matt Waletzko
8. OT Braxton Jones
9. OL Cam Jurgens
10. OL Dylan Parham
11. OL Cole Strange
12. TE/FB Chigoziem Okonkwo
13. WR Tyquan Thornton
14. WR Jared Bernhardt
15. CB Cordale Flott
16. CB DaRon Bland
17. CB Ja’Quan McMillian
18. CB Martin Emerson
19. DB Nick Grant
20. DB Tariq Carpenter
21. OLB DeAngelo Malone
22. OLB Nik Bonitto

Non-Top 30 Visits

1. LB Chad Muma (local visit)
2. TE Cole Turner (virtual visit)
3. OL Thayer Munford (virtual visit)
4. OL Jamaree Salyer (virtual visit)
5. OLB Isaiah Thomas (virtual visit)
6. RB Hassan Haskins (virtual visit)
7. WR Mike Harley Jr. (Hula Bowl)
8. WR D’Eriq King (pro day)
9. K Cade York  (pro day)

The draft will be held in Las Vegas from April 28-30. The Broncos currently own nine selections, including a second-round pick and a pair of third-round picks.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

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A wide receiver for Chargers in each round of 2022 NFL draft

Laying out a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers in each round of this year’s draft.

The Chargers have a few positions that need to be addressed in the upcoming draft, and wide receiver sits near the top.

Luckily, this year’s crop has starting-caliber talent from the first day of the draft until Day 3.

With that being said, here’s a tackle from each round that could fit in Los Angeles:

Round 1, Jameson Williams, Alabama

The Chargers have the need for speed, and that is the name of Williams’ game.

Williams established himself as quarterback Bryce Young’s preferred weapon en route posting 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns before tearing his ACL in the national title game against Georgia, winning vertically and after the catch. Further, he was a special teams stud, with ten kick returns for over 350 yards and two kick return touchdowns.

Williams said at the Combine that he’s ahead of his schedule in his recovery, but he may miss a chunk of the season while rehabbing. However, with the trio of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer, Los Angeles could afford to wait for an explosive injection of separation and big-play potential into the offense that the former Alabama product would provide.

Round 3, Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky

With the team lacking a true speed/yards-after-catch element, Robinson fulfills that void. In his junior season as a Wildcat, Robinson recorded 104 catches for 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns.

Despite boasting a smaller stature at 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds, Robinson has the ability to thrive with his speed, quickness and route-running ability, and the willingness to work over the middle. On top of that, he brings experience as a returner and special teams upside.

Round 4, Bo Melton, Rutgers

Melton finished his Rutgers career with 164 catches for 2,011 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and also participated in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he earned rave reviews at both events.

He isn’t the most physically imposing receiver at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, but Melton has the speed, quickness, and explosion to win all over the field. His ability to create yards after the catch in space is something the Chargers could benefit from.

Round 5, Danny Gray, SMU

Gray, a JUCO transfer, scored six touchdowns during his first season as a Mustang in 2020, four receiving and two rushing. This past season, he hauled in 49 receptions for 803 yards and nine touchdowns.

Gray has legitimate track speed, as evident by a blazing 4.33 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a long-strider, who is able to accelerate past cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage to win vertically and turn a slant into a 70-yard touchdown.

Gray only returned nine kicks and two punts during his collegiate career, but with his world-class speed, he could develop into a weapon as a return man.

Round 6, Tyquan Thornton, Baylor

Thornton had 1,294 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 81 receptions in his first three years for the Bears. But in his senior season, Thornton saved his best for last, recording 62 catches, 948 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.

At the Combine, Thornton continued to raise eyebrows, as he ran a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash (best among wide receivers) and recorded a 36.5-inch vertical jump (ninth-best). At 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, Thornton he uses that speed and explosion to take the top off the defense.

Round 7, Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State

Virgil tied the Appalachain State program record with three kick returns for touchdowns. Across 38 kick returns over his final three years in his collegiate career, Virgil averaged 30.1 yards per return. Among them, 15 of his attempts went for over 40-plus yards.

Virgil impressed during his Pro Day, posting a 40-yard dash of 4.37 seconds and a broad jump of 10-foot-10. That athleticism shows up not only in the return department but on the offensive side of the ball, with his ability to win vertically and beat defenders in space.

Report: Dolphins to meet with speedy WR prospect

He ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any wide receiver at this year’s combine.

The Miami Dolphins have done a lot to improve their receiving corps this offseason, bringing in Cedrick Wilson Jr. and trading for Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, they might not be done just yet.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Dolphins are set to work out Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. Thornton is most known for his 4.28-second 40-yard dash time at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, as it was the fastest time of any offensive player.

In his four seasons at Baylor, Thornton recorded 143 receptions for 2,242 yards and 19 touchdowns. During his senior season, he was named second-team All-Big-12 for putting up 948 yards and 10 touchdowns on 62 receptions.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein broke down his game on NFL.com:

“There is a lot to like about Thornton’s game, including his instincts, long speed and ability to create separation on the move. He’s a vertical threat with the speed and poise to win deep and has an excellent feel for maintaining spacing when working against zone coverage. He’s skinny and linear, which is a bad combination in defeating strong press-man corners on the next level.”

As a late-round prospect, Thornton may be available when the Dolphins pick in the seventh round. Adding his skill set to a group that boasts Hill and Jaylen Waddle, two of the faster receivers in the league, could be dangerous.

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Rams 2022 Draft Prospect Profile: Tyquan Thornton (WR, Baylor)

Sean McVay has shown a tendency to add skill players in the draft and Tyquan Thornton could be a target for the Rams in the 2022 NFL draft.

The Los Angeles Rams will enter the 2022 NFL draft with eight total draft picks. Given the team’s aggressive nature to acquire proven talent instead of rolling the dice on young prospects in the early rounds, the Rams won’t make their first selection until the third round at pick No. 104.

I wouldn’t consider the wide receiver position a massive need for Los Angeles, but the team got a glimpse at how important it is to have depth at the position just this past season. And with Robert Woods gone, the Rams may want to find someone to work alongside Allen Robinson, Cooper Kupp, and Van Jefferson.

We know that Sean McVay loves to take at least one skill position player in every draft, so there’s a possibility the team adds a wideout later this month. So with that in mind, the first wide receiver prospect that I’ll be taking a look at ahead of the 2022 NFL draft is Tyquan Thornton out of Baylor.

Packers host official pre-draft visit for Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton

The Packers hosted a top-30 visit with Tyquan Thornton, Baylor’s speedy wide receiver.

Baylor wide receiver Tyquan Thornton had an official pre-draft visit with the Green Bay Packers, according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network.

Each team gets 30 official visits with prospects before the draft.

The Packers could see Thornton as a potential solution for the team’s need for speed at wide receiver and a replacement for Marquez Valdes-Scantling as the offense’s primary deep threat.

Thornton (6-2, 181) caught 143 passes for 2,242 yards and 19 touchdowns over 47 career games at Baylor. In 2021, he set career-highs in catches (61), receiving yards (948) and touchdowns (10) and ranked third in the Big 12 in receiving yards and fifth in yards per catch (15.3). The Miami native was a second-team all-conference selection.

His game is all speed, an expected result of his extensive sprinting background.

Thornton ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds, the fastest time recorded at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He also hit 36.5″ in the vertical jump and covered 130″ in the broad jump. His Relative Athletic Score is 9.77 out of 10.

With elite speed, Thornton could be a field-stretching weapon at the next level.

From Packers Wire draft analyst Brennen Rupp: “The Baylor wide receiver has natural hands and good build-up speed to challenge cornerbacks vertically. He eats up grass with his long strides and showcases his strong hands when he finishes catches through contact.”

Size could be an issue. He’s underweight at 181 pounds and has small hands (8 1/4″).

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