The Thornton release highlights Patriots’ terrible lineup and lack of elite talent, originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots built a dynasty based largely on successful draft picks. Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Rob Gronkowski, Dont’a Hightower, Devin McCourty, Vince Wilfork and many others were drafted, developed and became key members of teams that won the Lombardi Trophy six times over an 18-year span.
The current state of the Patriots can be described by the opposite scenario. New England’s roster is devoid of top talent, perhaps more so than any other team in the NFL. So it’s not surprising that the Patriots enter Week 12 at 3-8, or that they finished 4-13 at the bottom of the AFC standings last season.
What is the main reason for the Patriots’ recent slump? Bad editing.
There are multiple ways to build a perpetual competitor. Trade is important. Free agent signings fill gaps here and there. But the most effective way to build a roster for long-term success is through the draft, and this is an area where the Patriots have failed mightily in recent years.
The draft class that really emphasizes this point is 2022. The Patriots released wide receiver Tyquan Thornton this weekend. He was a 2022 second-round pick (No. 50 overall) out of Baylor. Injuries and poor performances prevented Thornton from making any impact in more than two seasons with the team.
Thornton racked up 39 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns in 28 career games for the Patriots. The Pittsburgh Steelers took rising star wideout George Pickens two picks after Thornton in 2022. The Indianapolis Colts selected Alec Pierce three picks after Thornton. The Arizona Cardinals took Trey McBride – one of the best rising tight ends in the league – five picks after Thornton. The Buffalo Bills started getting back James Cook with the second-to-last pick in that round.
As bad as the Thornton pick was, it might not even be the worst in that 2022 class for New England. Left guard Cole Strange, who was considered a reach at No. 29, has barely played due to injuries. The Patriots traded away their No. 21 pick to get more picks from the Kansas City Chiefs, including No. 29. The Chiefs used that No. 21 pick on cornerback Trent McDuffie, who has played very well for a defense that has had back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
Only one of the 10 players drafted in 2022, Marcus Jones, is currently on New England’s active roster. Strange is on injured reserve and hasn’t played yet in 2024. Everyone else is out of the picture, and this draft was ordinary two years ago.
Here’s another look at the Patriots’ disastrous 2022 draft class.
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However, the bad draft lessons for the Patriots don’t end in 2022. They go back much further. In fact, as of today, only 18 players from the seven draft classes from 2017 through 2023 are on the Patriots’ active roster or injured. That’s 18 of a total of 63 players drafted during that seven-year period.
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How many of these 18 players are true cornerstone players? Christian González is one. You could throw Christian Barmore in there too. Kyle Dugger is not at that level, but is a very good player, as are Rhamondre Stevenson and Mike Onwenu.
Five really good (or better) players from seven drafts is brutal, especially when the Patriots made thirteen picks in the top 60 during that span.
And the Patriots had some real whiffs in that seven-year span, with the 2019 class consistently bad. New England’s first three picks that year had almost no impact on the field.
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First round: N’Keal Harry, WR
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Second round: Joejuan Williams, CB
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Third round: Chase Winovich, DE
The 2024 draft class will likely be a success for the Patriots solely because of Drake Maye. The No. 3 pick has played fantastic as a rookie and could legitimately become a franchise QB in short order. If that scenario unfolds, the class of 2024 will be a huge success regardless of how the other players develop. Finding a top-tier quarterback is the top priority for any team.
But if you exclude Maye, the class of 2024 looks pretty weak. Rookie wideouts Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round) were huge disappointments. Polk has 11 catches in 10 games, along with several penalties. Baker has barely seen the field so far. It’s too early to call these players draft busts, but the trend is certainly moving that way right now.
If the Patriots want to become a playoff team in the AFC again, it can’t just be Maye leading them there. They need to surround him with more elite talent at the skill positions and the offensive line. Achieving that goal must be done largely through design. But based on recent results, it’s hard to blame Patriots fans for not having much confidence in the team’s success.
