The Patriots released wide receiver Tyquan Thornton on Saturday two and a half seasons into a disappointing start to his NFL career.

Thornton never lived up to his second-round billing and was the latest wide receiver in a long line of early-round draft busts selected by former head coach Bill Belichick.

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The Patriots currently have two rookie wide receivers, selected by the current front office headed by Eliot Wolf, on their roster that are on pace for worse rookie seasons than Thornton had in 2022, when he caught 22 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns in 13 games while competing for snaps with veteran players like Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker and Nelson Agholor.

Ja’Lynn Polk, a 2024 second-round pick out of Washington, has just 11 catches for 80 yards through 10 games. Javon Baker, a 2024 fourth-round pick out of UCF, has yet to record his first NFL catch. He was also benched as the Patriots’ kick returner in Sunday’s 28-22 loss to the Rams after mishandling a return. Polk and Baker are competing for snaps with young wide receivers like Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, both of whom were selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Polk played 31 snaps on Sunday, including 17 on passing plays, and wasn’t targeted. He was flagged for a false start on fourth-and-1 from the Rams’ 19-yard line when it appeared the Patriots might have been ready to run a trick play. The play clock had run down to zero when Polk moved, but the Patriots had to settle for a field goal after the penalty.

“The frustrating thing about that false start play, in my mind, like 100% is going to be a touchdown. And we have to learn from that. Not only Polk, but myself, as well, all of us have to learn from those mistakes.”

Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte played 73 of 76 total snaps and produced four catches for 33 yards, though he did have a drop. DeMario Douglas played 43 snaps and caught five passes for 59 yards. Miscommunication with rookie quarterback Drake Maye led to a game-clinching interception. Veteran Kendrick Bourne played 39 snaps and led the team with 70 yards on five catches. With veteran K.J. Osborn a healthy scratch, Polk and Baker (five snaps) were the only wide receivers who weren’t targeted.

So, how does Mayo handle Bourne (who was benched last week) and Polk moving forward?

“Kendrick had a great game. Polk is developing, and he will be a good player in this league,” Mayo said. “As the head coach of this football team, we’re trying to win right now, and whoever the hot hand happens to be in that situation will play more.”

That seems to point to Bourne moving forward, though it’s tough to give up on developing Polk in games. Bourne has undoubtedly been the Patriots’ better receiver in recent weeks, even accounting for his benching, and any team is going to want to win games. But the priority at this point as the Patriots sit at 3-8 should be developing young players.

But wide receivers affect quarterbacks, and Maye will perform better with a better supporting cast. So, Mayo is probably making the right decision to sit the rookies for Bourne.

Baker returned the opening kick 46 yards to give the Patriots good field possess on their first drive. He muffed his second return and was replaced by running back JaMycal Hasty.

“(Baker) was back there the first couple of snaps, and he didn’t execute the way that we all had hoped he would,” Mayo said. “I know it was a big return. Even on that big return, it was one of those situations where, ‘Is he coming out, is he not coming out?’ and same thing with the second kickoff return.”

It’s too early to say that Polk or Baker is going to be the next Thornton. It’s only 11 games into their rookie seasons, but it’s a bad sign that both players are off to worse starts than a receiver who was cut 28 games into his Patriots tenure.