The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have big expectations when they added receiver Tyquan Thornton to their practice squad back in November of 2024. Thornton was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round in 2022 by the New England Patriots, but a combination of injuries, drops and route-running issues stopped the speedy receiver's development in its tracks, and he was widely considered a bust when the Chiefs signed him.
But Thornton was surprisingly productive in limited action, to the point where he’s rehabilitated his career to some extent as he hits the free agent market. Bill Barnwell of ESPN did a rundown of the wide receiver market, and he said Thornton is a “viable third wide receiver” in his list of unrestricted free agents.
That seems wildly optimistic for anyone who followed Thornton in New England, so let’s see what the numbers say. Thornton caught 19 passes while being targeted 37 times for 438 yards, but the number that really sticks out is his yards per catch average of 23.8.
He’s a home-run hitter who caught three touchdown passes this season, and Thornton definitely benefited from the unique playmaking skills of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who often turns conventional routes into backyard football to produce big plays.
There are issues, though. Thornton’s slender frame has made it tough for him to stay on the field, and his season ended early when he wound up in the concussion program. In many ways Thornton duplicates the skill set of fellow Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy, who has also struggled to stay on the field.
Barnwell’s comp for Thornton was receiver Dyami Brown of the Jacksonville Jaguars, with both receivers being Day 2 draft picks who showed plenty of production in a good offense. That’s a reasonable comp, so the question from there is whether it’s worth it for the Chiefs to keep him.
That’s where things get sticky. The Chiefs are over the cap, and they have moves to make in multiple position groups this offseason, so keeping a player like Thornton may end up being a low priority. As Barnwell points out, Thornton will be just 25 when he hits the market, and given what receivers are getting right now he stands to land a significant raise from the $1.1 million contract he signed for 2025.
A lot of this will probably depend on what Thornton wants. If his goal is to get paid, the Chiefs will probably opt out given that they already have Worthy. If he values playing with Mahomes as part of his career plans and Thornton is willing to take less money based on that, there’s a deal to be made that could keep him in Kansas City.