The Raiders offense needs a deep threat. On a per-opportunity basis, none from the 2025 NFL Draft class was better than Tennessee's Thornton. Overall, Thornton averaged an elite 2.98 yards per route run on 479 career routes. On 27 targets of 20+ air yards, Thornton averaged a silly 26.9 yards. Only Jaylen Waddle has topped that number among players with 20+ such targets since 2017. At 6-foot-5 with a 4.3-flat 40-yard time (lede buried), Thornton certainly has the tools to create wins in the vertical passing game. His name was one of the first called on Day 3, ahead of Jalen Royals and Elic Ayonamor. He also earned some serious plaudits during offseason minicamps, playing ahead of second-rounder Jack Bech. If throwing a late-round pick at a mystery box, maybe this size/speed combination attached to a spectacular anticipatory deep passer in Geno Smith makes sense.
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Fantasy News
Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Splash play in preseason finale
Rotowire
Thornton brought in two of three targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 20-10 preseason loss to the Cardinals on Saturday night.
The rookie fourth-round pick wrapped up his first preseason in strong form, recording a 17-yard touchdown reception and also seeing a 10-yard grab wiped out by the Raiders' acceptance of a pass interference penalty, all while working with Geno Smith on the opening possession. Thornton put together a 3-43-1 line on eight targets over three exhibitions, and he's tunneled his way up to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart heading into the regular season, seemingly surpassing fellow rookie Jack Bech.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Working with starters
Rotowire
Thornton was working with the Raiders' starters during Monday's mandatory minicamp practice, Jonathan Williams of Sports Illustrated reports.
Thornton was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 draft after catching 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns during his final year at Tennessee, and he already appears to be carving out a role for himself in Las Vegas' offense. As the team currently lacks proven talent at the position behind Jakobi Meyers, Thornton could end up serving as one of the team's top wideouts early on in his rookie season.
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Raiders' Dont'e Thornton: Adds speed to Vegas' receiving corps
Rotowire
The Raiders selected Thornton in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 108th overall.
Thornton had modest collegiate production, though he did average 25.4 yards per catch with six touchdowns in his final year with Tennessee. The Raiders likely drafted him with a similar role in mind, as he'll be able to use his 4.30 40-yard dash speed to threaten defenses vertically, in turn opening space underneath for the likes of Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. That may not mean a lot of production immediately for Thornton, but targets after Bowers and Meyers are up for grabs in the Raiders' wide receiver corps.
