4.28, Meet 4.21: Should Tyquan's Bust Scare Patriots From Scouting Combine Speedster?

After Tyquan Thornton's failure to make an impact in a New England Patriots uniform so far, should that mean they shy away from a prospect like Xavier Worthy?

A receiver who ran a 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine hasn't helped the New England Patriots. Should they take a chance on the next Combine darling who just ran a 4.21?

Near the top of the "needs" list for the Patriots this offseason is receiver. Obviously, quarterback and offensive tackle will take the headlines, especially in an NFL Draft class where as many as four signal-callers are projected to go in the first round. 

But even if the Patriots go with their next franchise quarterback or left tackle with the No. 3 overall pick, it doesn't mean they won't find a receiver. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah has even advised teams to take an offensive tackle before receivers, pointing to the sheer quantity of playmakers in the class. 

So, if the Patriots follow that advice and look elsewhere in Round 1, they could have a chance at selecting the NFL Scouting Combine's fastest prospect ever, former Texas receiver Xavier Worthy. 

Worthy became the new record-holder for the fastest 40-yard-dash time at 4.21 seconds, surpassing John Ross's 4.22. Based on that alone, many teams will be interested in adding that elite speed to their roster. The Patriots could be one of those teams, considering just two years ago, they drafted Tyquan Thornton, another receiver who impressed with his speed at the Combine. 

Two years before Worthy wowed scouts with 4.21, Thornton teased the Pats by running a 4.28.

New England Patriots receiver Tyquan Thornton (left) and NFL Draft prospect Xavier Worthy (right).  / USA Today Network

However, that fact could play against Worthy, as two years in, Thornton has failed to make the impact expected from a second-round pick. While injuries have been a big issue for the former Baylor Bear, even on the field, he has struggled to be a consistent playmaker.

In just 22 games, Thornton has totaled 338 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions. This begs the question: should the Patriots rule out the potential selection of Worthy, another speedster who could become a natural deep threat with his speed?

On paper, Worthy seems like the perfect pick for the Patriots. But that is never the case. For everything Worthy brings in speed, he may lack in strength, as his 165-pound frame is very similar to current Philadelphia Eagles' receiver DeVonta Smith. But unlike Smith, Worthy's hands, or at least their consistency, also appear to be a question mark as he had 15 drops in three seasons, according to Pro Football Focus.

However, even with those potential deficiencies, Worthy put together a productive three-year career at Texas. Worthy totaled 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns in 39 games for the Longhorns, which paints a similar picture to Thornton's coming out of Baylor, who recorded 2,242 yards and 19 scores. The major difference between the two is that Worthy did it in three seasons, compared to Thornton's four.

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Not only that but Worthy seemingly already possesses a more NFL-ready route tree than Thornton. He not only featured on the outside but even played in the slot throughout his career and could play a role on special teams as a punt returner, bringing even more value to the table. 

So, even with Thornton's career being a "bust" thus far, the Patriots shouldn't "paint with a broad brush" when evaluating other speedsters like Worthy.

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