The NFL trade market has heated up in the last week, with Davante Adams and Christian Kirk headlining the list of available (or potentially available, in the Jaguars WR’s case) names.
Teams looking for a younger, cheaper option at wide receiver could call the Patriots, who have “let it be known that Tyquan Thornton is available,” according to Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post. Return on investment will be impossible for the Patriots, given Thornton’s production. But the team is certainly attempting to dangle a player chosen in Bill Belichick‘s penultimate draft running the team.
Thornton, a 2022-second round pick, has just two catches for 27 yards in four appearances this year as the Patriots have struggled to establish a rhythm through the air with Jacoby Brissett under center behind a depleted offensive line. New England currently sits tied for last place in the AFC East at 1-3, so it could attempt to move Thornton for future draft picks as rebuild around No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye commences.
Thornton’s lackluster start to the season will deplete his trade value in a receiver-heavy market, and his limited NFL pedigree offers little hope that he will be an impact addition for any interested team. He averaged just 15.3 receiving yards per game with three total touchdowns in his first two seasons, though most of his production came as a rookie. Thornton was then outplayed by Demario Douglas in 2023 before the Patriots added veteran K.J. Osborn and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker this offseason, pushing the Baylor alum even further down the receiver depth chart.
Thornton has also struggled with injuries in the NFL, with IR stints in 2022 and 2023 that limited him to just 12 appearances across both seasons. His lack of availability, as well as his lack of production when he does play, will be significant concerns for any potential trade partner.
Still, Thornton is just 24 years old with two years remaining on his rookie contract, making him an affordable if unspectacular trade target. An acquiring team would owe Thornton $75K per week for the remainder of the 2024 season; his $1.7MM 2025 base salary is not guaranteed, per OverTheCap. The former Big 12 standout’s 4.28 40-yard dash at the 2022 Combine may have stuck in the mind of some NFL decision-makers who are willing to send a Day 3 pick to try to unlock Thornton’s upside. It appears we will soon find out if that is the case.
Chargers, calling it.
They already have QJ filling that bust role
The ol’ “throw some more wet pasta at the wall and see what sticks” technique
I can see all the teams lining up for the invisible man. What are the Patriots thinking? Bob is thinking of sand free Vaseline
Broncos
They already have two speedy WRs who don’t get the ball in Mims and Franklin. Sean Payton’s Big Brain thinks he could probably use another, though.
Edmonton Eskimos or Calgary Stampeders.
They might get a stick of gum and some nail clippers.