Kansas City Chiefs Sign Fastest Wide Receiver From 2022 NFL Draft
There's a saying that the rich get richer, and in the case of the Kansas City Chiefs, the fast get faster. Only days after the New England Patriots released him, the Chiefs signed Tyquan Thornton to the practice squad. In his third season for the Patriots, he has only been targeted 8 times this season and has four catches for 47 yards and no touchdowns.
His career has been a disappointment since he was taken in the second round (50th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has played in 28 games, starting just 13, and has been targeted only 76 times. He has 39 career receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
24 players taken after Thornton in the draft have more receptions than he does, 23 of them have more yards than he does, and 20 of them have more touchdowns than he does. George Pickens was taken two picks after Thornton and could be considered a star receiver, something the Patriots haven't had since Randy Moss was traded.
Kansas City Chiefs Add More Speed
In the 2024 Draft, the Chiefs opted for blazing speed at the receiver position. They took Texas pass-catcher Xavier Worthy with the 28th pick. He ran a 4.21 second forty-yard dash at the combine, the fastest time ever recorded with the electric timer (allegedly Bo Jackson ran a 4.18). In just 10 games, Worthy has 24 receptions for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Thornton ran a 4.28 at the 2022 combine, which was the fastest for any receiver there. One team's trash is another team's treasure, and Thornton could be a handful of rubies for the Chiefs. He costs next to nothing and gives the team the fastest wide receiver duo in the league.
This doesn't mean he is going to put the league on notice and start shattering records. There's a chance he won't see the field for Kansas City all year. That won't keep fans from fantasizing about him and Worthy on the outside, requiring mandatory safety help, leaving Deandre Hopkins and Travis Kelce one-on-one in the middle of the field.