New England Patriots Coaches Praise Third-Year WR

The New England Patriots may have something brewing at the wide receiver position.

For a group that was near the bottom of the league in 2023 and the only major additions made were through the draft , the bar is not exactly in the clouds. That being said, production will be welcome no matter who it comes from, and one player is surprisingly producing throughout the offseason.

2022 second-round selection Tyquan Thornton has largely disappointed through his first two seasons in the league despite speed that can match any receiver in the league. To this point, Thornton has struggled to consistently stay on the field and to put it all together even when healthy. However, he has been one of the top pass catchers on the team throughout camp, and drew some serious praise from his coaches this week.

"His speed down the field, his ability to run away from coverage and man coverage – all those things," offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said on Thornton . "He’s really been tough at the catch point this year, so he’s getting stronger in that regard.

Wide receivers coach Tyler Hughes also offered praise for Thornton, talking about the prowess he has at the position.

“I think the big thing that I’m happy with with Tyquan is his route detail," Hughes said. "We all know he’s a fast guy, but his intermediate route-running, his short route-running to go along with his speed, has been really positive. I think that’s an important part of his game that he’s tried to refine and develop, and it’s been positive during camp.”

By all accounts, Thornton has locked up a roster spot and will look to take the next step in his career in 2024.