The Kansas City Chiefs made some moves to fix their flawed offense next season. Bringing back Eric Bieniemy to replace Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator was a huge first step, and hiring Chad O'Shea as the new wide receivers coach could also help their case.
Now, the Chiefs must figure out who will be on the roster and who won't. Most of their wide receivers will be free agents, including Tyquan Thornton. Although a potential re-signing seemed like a long shot at the start of the offseason, due to Kansas City's WR room needing a reset, it seems like the pending free agent is still open to a return.
"Tyquan Thornton said he’d love to be back with the Chiefs. But wants a team that will involve him enough to get his 'fair share of targets.' And wants to show he can be more than just a straight line downfield threat," Sports Radio 810 WHB's Jason Anderson reported on Wednesday.
Fortunately, for Thornton, it looks like the Chiefs have already done enough to give him a terrific shot at making an impact if he does return for the 2026 campaign.
Chiefs' Coaching Moves Give Tyquan Thornton a Chance to Succeed in 2026
Thornton clearly wasn't a priority for former offensive coordinator Matt Nagy or ex-WRs coach Connor Embree. Otherwise, he would've been on the field way more often, taking touches away from lesser contributors like Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Although his 368 offensive snaps were the second-highest total of his career, seeing only 26.3 opportunities per game wasn't enough to make the most of Thornton's blistering speed.
Despite the limited opportunities, Thornton played his way to a career year. He finished the season with 19 receptions on 37 targets for 438 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His 23.1 yards per catch almost doubled his previous personal-best effort (11.8), illustrating what staying in the Chiefs' offense could do for his career.
Thornton showed impressive chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially in deep routes. He's the big-play specialist this team has been craving for since Tyreek Hill left the building. While he should have several suitors in free agency, he should also know that staying with Mahomes by his side will probably be his best bet and clearer path to a Super Bowl.
Even with head coach Andy Reid still calling plays, OC Eric Bieniemy will have a major input in game-planning and scheming. He spent one year learning from a creative mind like Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson, and given Thornton's high-end speed and acceleration, he could have plenty of ways to get him involved in the offense.
OverTheCap lists Thornton's 2025 valuation at just over $3.2 million, which would be a great price if the Chiefs can get it regarding a re-signing. A one- or two-year 'prove-yourself' deal at that rate would not only be great for Kansas City's financial situation, but it'd also encourage Thornton to replicate or improve upon last year's performance in hopes of a bigger payday.
At just 25 years old, Thornton's best days could be ahead of him, perhaps as early as this fall. With that in mind, the Chiefs must seriously consider bringing him back for at least another season, especially if the new-look coaching staff can help take the veteran speedster's game to new heights.