Bill Belichick made several questionable draft choices late in his Patriots tenure, producing poorly built rosters and labeled busts. N'Keal Harry and Tyquan Thornton became emblematic of those misfires, failing to make an impact in New England and leaving within three years. Thornton has shown consistent preseason flashes but rarely produced in regular-season games with the Patriots. A change of scenery to the Chiefs paired him with Patrick Mahomes, and Thornton posted a notable deep catch in the preseason finale. The preseason surge raises the possibility that a better quarterback and environment could unlock his potential, though regular-season performance remains uncertain.
A few became the most infamous of all, like wide receivers N'Keal Harry and Tyquan Thornton, both of whom the former head coach reached for when they were selected. Neither did much of anything during their time in New England, and they were on another team within three years. For the most part, letting them go didn't look like a bad decision, and while that remains true, the rise of Thornton with the Chiefs this offseason is certainly noteworthy.
Besides being shocking, given how he played with the Patriots, it looks like he could be a solid weapon for three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which was not something anyone could have predicted going into this offseason. Tyquan Thornton might finally becoming the kind of player Bill Belichick believed he could be (just not with the Patriots) Throughout the summer, Thornton has made headlines for his performances at training camp, which is nothing new to the fourth-year receiver.
He could still prove to be just that once the 2025 season begins, but his performance against the Bears in the Chiefs' preseason finale made headlines, as he caught a deep ball from Mahomes that was good for 50+ yards. DEEEEP BALLLLL 🚀 pic.twitter.com/neaDTagERA- Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 23, 2025 If this is any indication of what's to come, then perhaps Thornton really did just need a change of scenery and a much better quarterback to work with. Or, this is just the latest example of a preseason superstar who turns back into a pumpkin once the regular season begins. Time will tell
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