The Patriots are dealing with uncharted territory during this year's training camp, as they have 11 receivers vying for a spot on the 2025 roster. There are only a few names considered locks at this point, and beyond that, it's a close competition between some very talented players, something New England hasn't had the fortune of dealing with in a long time.
That's mainly due to the poor drafting by Bill Belichick, who became enamored with the wrong players coming out of college. That led to him selecting guys like N'Keal Harry over A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf in 2019 and trading up for Tyquan Thornton in the second round.
Thornton's speed was said to be a primary reason for Belichick's intrigue, and although that was certainly needed on the Patriots' offense, the wide receiver wasn't able to make much of an impact during his three years in Foxboro. It was a disappointing development, given his consistently great appearance at training camp and during the preseason, a trend that seems to continue now that he's with the Chiefs.
It's a trap that the perennial Super Bowl contender is falling for, prompting Patriots fans to scream, "Watch out!" even if it is semi-enjoyable to see the Chiefs of all teams taking the bait.
The Chiefs will likely regret falling for Tyquan Thornton's standout training camp performances
Every year he was with the Patriots, Thornton would string together impressive showings in the offseason that made the team and fans believe they had finally unlocked the version of the wide receiver the offense desperately needed.
Then the regular season began, and it all came crashing down. Of course, some factors probably contributed to that slightly, but it was also just the reality of the situation hitting, and it was clear Belichick reached for a receiver instead of properly evaluating the talent available.
Now that he's with the Chiefs, Thornton continues to make highlight plays, and it appears as though they are falling for the propaganda, despite his sketchy history.
#Chiefs WR Tyquan Thornton is having another great day at camp 👀 pic.twitter.com/LpkUsmxUQO
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) August 6, 2025
With questionable depth at the position, there's a chance that Thornton will make Kansas City's final roster, but as a backup. Regardless, it's a decision they might come to regret, just like the Patriots did from 2022 to 2024.
There is potential with Thornton, and maybe he'll prove he's more than just a top performer at training camp, bringing that to an actual game. However, history hasn't shown that to be true, and the Chiefs are not a team that should be willing to risk that on game day.
It will be interesting to see what ultimately happens and what his future might hold. It's fair to assume that if it doesn't work out with the Chiefs, Thornton is likely going to be watching the NFL from the outside looking in.