Kendrick Bourne had a funny jab for skinny new teammate Tyquan Thornton
In second-round rookie Tyquan Thornton, the Patriots immediately have one of the fastest wide receivers in the National Football League. But he’s also one of the skinniest.
So, Thornton should expect to hear some good-natured ribbing from his veteran teammates until he can bulk up a bit. He stands at 6-foot-2 with 33 1/4-inch arms, but only 181 pounds. His hands are also on the smaller side, at 8 1/4 inches. Not much Thornton can do about the hands, but can he at least bump the weight closer to 190?
New teammate Kendrick Bourne sounds like he’ll be needling him to do that. Bourne spoke to reporters in person for the first time of the 2022 season at the Patriots’ first open OTA practice on Monday, and was his usual jovial, excited self. But he couldn’t resist a playful jab at the rookie, despite his obvious speed.
“Yeah, Tyquan’s dope. We’re gonna get some weight on my guy, but bro is blazing, though,” Bourne said.
To be fair, Bourne continued to praise Thornton for the work he’s already put in. He’s hoping that, like himself, Thornton takes advantage of his opportunity, being in Foxboro with the promise of Bill Belichick putting him in position to succeed.
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“He’s bought in,” Bourne said of Thornton. “You can tell he cares. I think it was a dope pick, man. We need speed and we needed to add that downfield threat, so I think he gives us another [target in] that part of the field. That’s another thing, learning from him, too. I can learn from him, he can learn from us, and he’s in the right place. If he has the right attitude and applies himself, this type of place will take you to another level.”
To be fair to Thornton for a moment, Jameson Williams – arguably the best receiver prospect in the 2022 draft, who went 12th overall to the Lions – measured at 6-foot-2 and 179 pounds. Devonta Smith, who went to the Eagles 10th overall in 2021 and posted a 64-916-5 line as a rookie, measured at 6 feet and 170 pounds. Twigs!
But that’s to say that Thornton’s slender frame isn’t necessarily a roadblock to success at the NFL level. He already has elite speed (4.28 in the 40-yard dash), which you can’t coach. Pre-draft scouting reports noted his separation ability and steady hands. So he should at least be a better version of what the Patriots had with, say, Damiere Byrd. It’s just that damn weight that could make it tough for him to beat physical press-man coverage.
There’s plenty of time to see what Thornton is capable of with the Patriots. The addition of DeVante Parker, and improvement from Nelson Agholor, could reduce the urgency for him to make an immediate impact. But it’s clear that adding some poundage will be on the docket for him as he gets ready for NFL action.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at [email protected].
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