A to Z Sports is reviewing the New England Patriots’ 2022 NFL Draft class ahead of the team’s upcoming organized team activities next week.

Next up in our Patriots 2022 NFL Draft review is a second-round pick who played a lot of snaps as a rookie with little production to show for it.

Round 2, Pick 50: Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton

2022 Summary: The slim, speedy wideout caught 22 passes on 45 targets for 247 yards with two touchdowns as a rookie, so it might surprise you to learn he played 527 (50.1 percent of) offensive snaps despite missing four games with a broken collarbone. Among 102 receivers with at least 37 targets, Thornton ranked second-lowest with 0.76 yards per route run, per PFF. Only A.J. Green, who retired this offseason, ranked lower. Thornton’s mark was considerably worse than his teammates Jakobi Meyers (1.9), DeVante Parker (1.71), Kendrick Bourne (1.47) and even Nelson Agholor (1.23). Despite that, he played more snaps than Agholor and Bourne.

What lies ahead: It would be really fun if Thornton could catch fire and add a serious speed element to New England’s offense. He ran a blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2, 183 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

It’s difficult to find reasons to be super optimistic that Thornton will take a massive step forward in Year 2, however. Thornton was a surprise second-round pick last season and taken before more efficient wide receivers in George Pickens, Romeo Doubs, Skyy Moore and Alec Pierce.

Here’s a list of receivers who averaged less than .8 yards per route run (min. 37 targets) as rookies: KeeSean Johnson, Zay Jones, Nelson Agholor, Darius Johnson, T.J. Graham and Darrius Heyward-Bey. That’s … not the worst list. But it’s also not a great list. And the Patriots have historically struggled at drafting wide receivers. That makes Thornton's early returns all the more concerning.

The best reason to believe that Thornton could be a different player in 2023 is the change in offensive coaching. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm took over for Matt Patricia and Joe Judge atop New England’s offensive coaching hierarchy. Meyers and Agholor are gone and have been replaced by JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas. Mac Jones will likely remain at quarterback and could use a speedy receiver like Thornton to take the top off the defense. It would also help if Thornton's summer isn't cut short by injury this year.

Ultimately, we’ll see what Thornton can provide this season. There isn’t necessarily a ton of pressure on him with Smith-Schuster, Parker, Bourne, tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki and running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and James Robinson also getting looks. But it would definitely be nice if the Patriots could get some value and playmaking ability out of a second-round pick.

Other 2022 NFL Draft picks: OT Andrew Stueber, G Chasen Hines, DT Sam Roberts, RB Kevin Harris, QB Bailey Zappe, RB Pierre Strong, CB Jack Jones, CB Marcus Jones