Tyquan Thornton never became the player he was meant to be with the New England Patriots.
But now he's gotten a second chance with the Kansas City Chiefs.
And with K.C.'s receiving corps dealing with injuries and suspensions, Thornton could become extra important.
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He made a big play against the Chargers in his Chiefs debut, too:
Mahomes to Tyquan Thornton.
— Savage (@SavageSports_) September 6, 2025
The longest reception of Thornton’s career.
😳 pic.twitter.com/PLR4hdvciG
Why did the Patriots let Tyquan Thornton leave for the Chiefs?
The Patriots had simply decided Tyquan Thornton was a bust.
They didn't want to keep him. They wanted to try out some new wide receivers.
The Pats drafted Thornton in the second round (No. 50 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he lasted three seasons there.
His best year was as a rookie, when he had 22 catches for 247 yards.
In 2023, he declined to 13 catches for 91 yards.
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And last season, Thornton had just four catches for 47 yards.
The Pats signed Stefon Diggs, drafted Kyle Williams and found an undrafted gem in Efton Chism for the 2025 season. That made Thornton surplus to proceedings.
The Chiefs will happily take the talented wideout for themselves.
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