Patriots 2022 NFL redraft: New England lands elite WR in second round
· Yahoo Sports
The New England Patriots had two future 1,000-yard wide receivers on the board when they went up to select with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
However, they did not select either of those two receivers. Instead, New England picked wide receiver Tyquan Thornton at No. 50 overall. The 25-year-old spent three seasons with the Patriots from 2022-24, prior to playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.
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Thornton’s most productive season with the Patriots came as a rookie, when he went for 247 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2022. He did not amass more than 91 yards in either of the following two seasons. Thornton did record a career-high 438 yards in 2025 with the Chiefs.
However, the Patriots electing to pass on the other options available in the second round of that year’s draft is worth lamentation.
New selection: WR George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys)
No. 52 overall pickin 2022 - Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens was available for the Patriots to take in the second round in 2022. The Alabama native recorded his first season with 1,000 yards in 2023, just his second year in the NFL. Pickens went for 1,140 yards that season. He led the NFL in yards per reception with 18.1. Pickens recorded 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors.
Honorable mention: WR Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts)
No. 53 overall pickin 2022 - Indianapolis Colts
If the Patriots were not fond of Pickens, they also had Alec Pierce to consider at No. 50 overall. Pierce was selected right behind Pickens in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old has led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons. He recorded 22.3 yards per reception in 2024, as well as 21.3 yards in 2025. Pierce went for 1,000 yards receiving in 2025 with 1,003 yards. The Patriots were linked to Pierce in free agency in 2026 prior to his decision to return to the Colts.
Honorable mention: RB James Cook (Buffalo Bills)
No. 63 overall pickin 2022 - Buffalo Bills
Rhamondre Stevenson did record 1,040 rushing yards for the Patriots in 2022 as their featured running back. However, New England had the option to select reigning Second-Team All-Pro running back James Cook instead of Thornton. Cook led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, as well as yards in 2025 with 1,621 rushing yards.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots 2022 NFL redraft: New England lands elite WR in second round