Raiders head coach sends firm message to former Tennessee Vols WR Dont’e Thornton ahead of important summer
Former Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont’e Thornton is entering his second season in the NFL. Thornton, who started his career at Oregon, was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Dont’e Thornton is entering his second season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Thornton earned a significant amount of hype last summer — thanks in part to some comments from Raiders superstar EDGE Maxx Crosby.
“Dont’e Thornton, the dude we drafted from Tennessee, the big receiver,” said Crosby a year ago. “6-foot-4, another freak, I think he might be 6-foot-5. Runs a 4.30 (in the 40-yard dash). He reminds me of (NFL wide receiver) Martavis Bryant. He even looks like him. He’s tall, skinny, wears No. 10. He’s got the grills in, he’s got the dreads. The way he runs, the way he catches the ball. He just reminds me of Martavis.
“It’s crazy because a kid like that, he had success in college, but he hasn’t hit his full potential yet. Seeing him on the field and realizing what he can be, from a player perspective, is like holy s–t, this dude could be something serious.”
Thornton played in 15 games as a rookie, but he recorded just 10 receptions for 135 yards and zero touchdowns.
New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak sends message to Dont’e Thornton
New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak revealed last week that there’s a competition between Thornton and fellow second-year wide receiver Jack Bech for the No. 3 wide receiver job in Las Vegas.
Bech, a second round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, caught 24 passes for 224 yards and zero touchdowns in 16 games last season.
“We’re counting on them,” said Kubiak. “We’re counting on them to produce for us. The good thing is there’s competition with Bech and with DT (Thornton). There’s a lot of competition in that receiver room, and may the best man win.”
That quote should be music to Thornton’s ears. The former Vol has an elite skill set (6-foot-5 and runs a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash), he just has to find a way to be consistent. Regardless, the opportunity is there for Thornton to earn the job. And opportunity is all any player can ask for.
Thornton had a slow start at Tennessee, catching 13 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown in 2023 before breaking out with 26 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 2024.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Thornton make a similar jump with the Raiders in 2026, but he’ll have to show up each day committed to the process (it’s cliche, but it’s true) for that to happen.