The Kansas City Chiefs couldn't help but take note of a recent post from NFL pundit Warren Sharp pointing to Tyquan Thornton as part of an elite group. Thornton is among eight receivers who caught more than 20 targets of 20+ yards and didn't have a single incompletion that was his fault. Joining Thornton on this list are Tee Higgins, Alec Pierce, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nucua, Nico Collins, Zay Flowers, and DeVonta Smith.
It is a bit of a shocking list when you consider it includes established stars and that of Thornton, who before last season was seen as a second-round draft bust. The Chiefs' pass-catcher is coming off a breakout season, putting together more touchdowns and yardage in year four than he had in his first three seasons with the New England Patriots combined.
Thornton clearly had a high level of trust from both Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, pointing to a reason to wonder if another leap could be coming in Thornton's second season with Kansas City. The receiver finished the 2025 season with 438 receiving yards and a trio of touchdown passes, leading to an offseason extension that has expectations growing for the receiver.
Baked into this as well is a lack of noteworthy additions to the receiver depth chart and questions around both Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
Chiefs have reason to wonder if Tyquan Thornton could reach another level in 2026 season
One of the clear areas of struggle the Chiefs dealt with in recent seasons has been the deep ball. Having a receiver who was undeniably elite when it comes to 20+ yard throws offers a needed level of stability. It also hands Mahomes a chance to find a more consistent level of performance moving forward when it comes to capitalizing on moonshots, which has been an obvious area of focus for the Chiefs.
Thornton reaching another level and producing 500-600 yards with a handful of highlight catches should be the expectation. This is if Worthy and Rice are both able to remain in the lineup, which remains an obvious area of concern moving forward.
No matter how this plays out, the Chiefs have reason to believe Thornton will take a leap yet again, whether in an elevated role or in the third receiver position. If this doesn't meet expectations, there is clear reason for concern, as it has put an incredible level of confidence in Thornton. Confidence that the deeper numbers suggest is warranted as the Chiefs head closer to the 2026 season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google