Tyquan Thornton’s college coach has some ideas about how the Patriots can use the speedy wideout.
In an interview with USA Today’s Henry McKenna, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda says he thinks Thornton can be a game-changer for the Patriots when it comes to the passing game.
“I could see him being the home run threat there and someone that can open up the offense and stretch it out,” Aranda said. “I think there’s option routes underneath in the offense. There’s basic routes and compliments to running backs and timing routes. I think he can bring the ability to open it up and really stretch the sets and get those safeties further back and just open other things that are really at the core of what the offense was, particularly last year.”
Aranda is right: the Patriots would benefit from a true downfield threat. Thornton ran the fastest 40-time among receivers at the NFL Combine and projects as a pass-catcher who can stretch the field. He caught 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns with Baylor last season.
Most draft analysts were surprised when the Patriots traded up and selected Thornton at No. 50 overall, but Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes confirmed he was on the radar of at least three other teams, including the Packers and Saints.
“He was a riser,” Grimes said. “There are guys that increase their stock within weeks of the draft, and I think (Thornton) was one of those guys. And how much is he going to rise is the question. And so everyone’s just making an estimated guess. I think the value of him was more than what some people realized.”
The Patriots certainly think so. We’ll see if they’re proven right.
