The New York Giants are heading into the offseason with one thing clear: they need more juice at wide receiver. This isn’t a new storyline, but with Matt Nagy now calling the shots as offensive coordinator, the search for dynamic pass-catchers takes on a new dimension. Nagy brings with him a deep knowledge of Kansas City’s system - and possibly, a few names from that roster who could fit what he wants to build in New York.
While the obvious connection might be Marquise “Hollywood” Brown - a free agent with speed and experience in high-powered offenses - there’s another name that’s flying under the radar: Tyquan Thornton.
Thornton isn’t a household name, but he made some noise early last season in Kansas City. In fact, over the first five weeks of the year, he looked like a legitimate deep threat.
He caught 13 of his 19 total receptions during that opening stretch, racking up 438 yards on 37 targets - that’s an eye-popping 23.1 yards per catch. That kind of vertical production doesn’t just happen by accident.
Thornton was stretching defenses and creating explosive plays, something the Giants have sorely lacked.
But here’s where things get interesting. After Week 5, his role took a nosedive.
Rashee Rice returned from suspension in Week 7, and Xavier Worthy - who had been sidelined early - came back into the fold. As the Chiefs' receiving room got healthier, Thornton's snap counts dropped.
He went from being a featured piece to a footnote.
And that raises a fair question: what if the Chiefs had kept feeding him the ball? According to some insiders around the team, there’s a real sense that Thornton had earned a bigger role. But in a crowded receiver room, he got lost in the shuffle.
From a financial standpoint, there’s a compelling case to be made for Thornton over a bigger name like Brown. Spotrac estimates Brown’s market value around $5.5 million for a one-year deal.
Thornton, on the other hand, made just $1.1 million in 2025 and likely wouldn’t command much more than that on the open market. For a team like the Giants, looking to get younger and faster without overspending, that matters.
Thornton is still just 25 years old, and he’s got the kind of raw tools you can’t teach. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he ran a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine.
That kind of speed can change the geometry of a defense. But his NFL journey so far has been anything but smooth.
Drafted 50th overall by the Patriots in 2022, Thornton never quite found his footing in New England. Over four seasons, he totaled just 58 receptions in 42 games.
He was cut midseason in 2024 and landed on the Chiefs’ practice squad. It’s been a winding road, but his early-season flashes with Kansas City suggest there might still be something there.
Evaluators who followed his time in New England point to a mix of tantalizing potential and frustrating inconsistency. He showed vertical speed and some gadget-play upside, but struggled with press coverage, blocking, and route discipline.
Injuries didn’t help, and neither did the revolving door of offensive coordinators and head coaches. He played under three different OCs and two head coaches in Foxborough - not exactly the recipe for steady development.
Still, there’s a belief that with the right scheme and some stability, Thornton could carve out a role. He’s probably not built to be a true X-receiver, battling at the line and winning contested catches.
But as a Z - playing off the line, getting clean releases, and using his speed on slants, screens, crossers, and go routes - he could be dangerous. He may not be a complete receiver, but in the right role, he could be a real asset.
And that’s where the Giants come in. If Nagy sees something in Thornton - and he very well might - this could be a low-risk, high-reward move.
He wouldn’t need to be a WR1. But in a receiver room that includes Jalin Hyatt, who underwhelmed in 2025, and Darius Slayton, who’s been steady but unspectacular, there’s room for a player like Thornton to compete for meaningful snaps.
Thornton himself sounds ready for the next chapter. He’s said he’d like to return to Kansas City, but more than anything, he wants a fair shot - a chance to contribute, get targets, and play at a high level.
That opportunity might not come with the Chiefs, where the depth chart is stacked. But in New York?
With a new OC and a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart looking for weapons? That could be the perfect fit.
The Giants need speed. They need playmakers.
And they need guys who can take the top off a defense. Thornton may not be a sure thing, but he’s got the kind of upside that’s worth betting on - especially if Nagy believes he can unlock it.