Ninety-two NFL receivers saw at least 45 targets during the 2022 season, and Thornton was the only one who caught less than half of his (48.7%).
Personally, I didn’t see much from Thornton that makes me think he’s about to explode in Year 2. But I could be proven wrong. Missing half the preseason and the first month of the regular season undoubtedly stunted his development, and it’s hard to properly evaluate how any of the Patriots’ offensive players performed last season given how dysfunctional that unit as a whole was under Patricia and Joe Judge.
Staying healthy and quickly picking up new coordinator Bill O’Brien’s scheme will be vital for Thornton this offseason.
New England’s receiving corps currently features newcomer JuJu Smith-Schuster, Parker, Bourne, Thornton, Bowden and Tre Nixon, with the potential for more additions through free agency (Odell Beckham?), trades (DeAndre Hopkins? Jerry Jeudy?) or next month’s draft.
@JimboTrivette
Since we know it will be OL at 14 unless they trade back, which Tackle do you think they will select at 14?
I think offensive tackle is the Patriots’ No. 1 need, and that’s the position I’d target in Round 1 if possible. Georgia’s Broderick Jones looks like a strong option at No. 14 overall based on both talent and projected draft slot, but it’s tough to predict right now where and in which order he and fellow top prospects Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) and Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) will come off the board.
But saying we “know” the Patriots will draft a tackle at No. 14 is inaccurate. Nobody truly knows what the Patriots will do with that pick. Did anyone see them using last year’s 21st pick on Strange, a projected third-rounder? No chance.
I certainly don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that New England has its top pick earmarked for a tackle. I could see them going one of several ways in Round 1. Here’s how I’d rank the likelihood of those possible paths:
1. Tackle
2. Front-seven defender (linebacker, edge defender or D-lineman)
3. Defensive back (cornerback or safety)
4. Wide receiver
5. Tight end
6. Other
The only positions that would truly surprise me on Day 1 are quarterback, running back, interior offensive line and punter/kicker. Everything else, to me, is fair game.
@Ol_Uncle_Jim
Is there a possibility the Patriots package some picks to get another pick in the late 1st/early second similar to how they got barmore? Feel like there’s a lot of good fits at the positions they need most in that range.
Definitely a chance. The Patriots have made draft-day trades involving first- or second-round picks in each of the last five drafts. The last time they didn’t was in 2017, when they didn’t have any first- or second-rounders because of pre-draft trades for Brandin Cooks and Kony Ealy.
