Raiders Draft Tennessee’s Thornton Jr: A Big-Play WR Al Davis Would Have Loved

New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly should find immediate ways to utilize Thornton’s speed on vertical routes, play-action shots, and red-zone mismatches.

The Las Vegas Raiders went back to their roots with their fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. with the 108th overall selection — a move that would have made late owner Al Davis proud.

Thornton, who transferred to Tennessee after beginning his college career at Oregon, brings a tantalizing blend of size, speed, and vertical ability to the Raiders' offense. Measuring 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds with a blistering 4.30 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, Thornton fits the classic Raiders archetype: a big-bodied, explosive athlete built to stretch defenses and create game-changing plays.

In many ways, this selection mirrors the kind of bold, high-upside gambles that became synonymous with the Raiders’ brand under Davis — a franchise always willing to bet on speed and raw playmaking talent.

At Tennessee, Thornton flashed his potential as a vertical weapon, showing the ability to stack cornerbacks, win contested catches, and take the top off defenses. While his production didn’t always match his physical gifts, largely due to injuries and a deep receiver rotation — the upside has never been in question.

Now in Las Vegas, Thornton will be a true big-play threat. His rare combination of length and acceleration gives the Raiders' passing attack a dimension it’s lacked — a receiver who can demand safety help over the top while also offering a massive catch radius for quarterbacks to target.

New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly should find immediate ways to utilize Thornton’s speed on vertical routes, play-action shots, and red-zone mismatches. With second-year standout Brock Bowers and fellow rookie Ashton Jeanty working underneath, Thornton could find himself with favorable one-on-one matchups right away.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. is a prototypical Raiders selection — a size-speed freak with the potential to make splash plays from Day 1. If he can stay healthy and polish his route tree, Thornton has a real chance to carve out a meaningful role early in his NFL career.