Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City’s newest wideout played with JuJu Smith-Schuster in New England.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ new practice squad wide receiver Tyquan Thornton might be a player that general manager Brett Veach could have taken in the NFL Draft.
In 2022, the Chiefs held the 18th pick of the second round — the 50th overall selection. As it approached, Veach made a deal with the New England Patriots, giving up the pick to get the 22nd pick of the round (54th overall) and the 15th pick of the fifth round (158th overall).
Veach used the 54th selection to acquire Western Michigan wide receiver — after New England’s Bill Belichick had taken Thornton with the 50th pick. Since then, the former Baylor wideout has appeared in 38 games for the Patriots (starting 13), collecting 39 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns — plus a rushing score.
On Saturday, New England waived him — and on Tuesday, the Chiefs released wideout Cornell Powell, making room to sign the 24-year-old Thornton to their practice squad.
Kansas City’s JuJu Smith-Schuster was already acquainted with the newest addition to the wide receiver group.
“Obviously, he has a great opportunity to come here,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I think he’s a great dude; I played with him in New England. [He’s a] young dude [who] loves to work. [He’s] another guy who [can] stretch the field, too: you’ll see him out there doing his thing. I’m just excited he’s here to be in the building.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has liked what he’s seen so far.
“In season, [I] haven’t watched a ton of film on him,” he admitted, “but just from the highlights that I have seen? I mean, [he has] a ton of big-play ability.”
The 6-feet-2, 185-pound Thornton is taller than most of Kansas City’s wideouts — only Justyn Ross stands above him — and ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine. But for now, he’ll probably spend most of his time catching passes from quarterback Carson Wentz on the scout team.
“I didn’t realize how tall he was until he got in the building,” noted Mahomes. “I’m excited to see him on the practice field, working. I’m sure guys like Carson and them will give him chances downfield — and we’ll get to see that speed.
“[He has] a lot of talent [and] a lot of ability. I think it will be good to get him worked in within the offense and see what he can do.”
