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Patriots’ Tyquan Thornton: Is he Belichick’s best rookie receiver ever?

By Jon Cirrinone

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates with Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots after Thornton's touchdown during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates with Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots after Thornton's touchdown during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 30: Wide receiver Deion Branch #84 of the New England Patriots celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard pass during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on October 30, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Patriots 25-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 30: Wide receiver Deion Branch #84 of the New England Patriots celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard pass during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on October 30, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Patriots 25-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Top 5 rookie seasons by a Patriots WR under Bill Belichick: Deion Branch

Fresh off their first-ever Super Bowl victory, The Patriots used a second round pick in 2002 on Louisville wide receiver Deion Branch. Playing in 13 games, Branch amassed 489 yards and two touchdowns on 43 receptions. He also handled kick and punt return duties for the team.

Branch moved on from that rookie year to put together a decade-long career in the league. His second and third season with the Patriots both brought Super Bowl rings and he was even named Super Bowl MVP in SB XXXIX, when he caught 11 balls for 133 yards.

Bill Belichick’s offense has long touted a productive slot receiver. Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, and the aforementioned Jakobi Meyers have all enjoyed strong statistical seasons in New England. Oftentimes, Deion Branch is the forgotten man. Branch possessed a rare quickness that yielded strong results from the beginning.

Top 5 rookie seasons by a Patriots WR under Bill Belichick: Aaron Dobson

Kenbrell Thompkins wasn’t the only rookie wide receiver to join that depleted pass-catching room in the 2013 offseason. Just before signing Thompkins as an undrafted free agent, the Patriots drafted Aaron Dobson out of Marshall in the second round of the 2013 draft. The pass-catching room was in a time of transition, losing Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Brandon Lloyd, and Hernandez for various reasons. The Pats were hopeful Dobson could make an immediate impact, and as far as rookie seasons under Belichick, he certainly did.

Dobson brought in 519 yards on 37 receptions and four touchdowns while playing in twelve games during his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, his promising career was derailed by injuries and he managed to play only twelve more games over the next two seasons, before calling it a career.

Could Tyquan do something we haven’t seen in 20 years?

Back to Tyquan. Given the low bar that rookie Patriots receivers have set in the last two decades, could he be the exception? With six career receptions, that might seem premature. But with trade chatter intensifying around Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, it’s possible Thornton begins to see even more opportunity.

His speed and explosiveness is tantalizing and his scouting report boasts soft, strong hands. Matt Patricia and Joe Judge can deploy him in ways that Patriots fans haven’t seen in years. He has great size and if we can continue to get him in space, the sky really is the limit for this young wideout.

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