One of the fastest wide receivers ever measured at his size, Dont'e Thornton Jr. brought elite speed from Tennessee to the Raiders as a fourth-round pick in 2025.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. is a deep-threat wide receiver for the Raiders who transferred from Oregon to Tennessee before a breakout senior season built on explosive plays. His combine speed made him one of the more intriguing developmental prospects in the 2025 draft class.
Path to the league
Thornton played his first two college seasons at Oregon from 2021 to 2022 before transferring to Tennessee, where he broke out as a senior in 2024. The Raiders selected him in the fourth round, 108th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Thornton's senior year at Tennessee produced 26 receptions for 661 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he led the nation in yards per reception at 25.4. At the NFL Combine, the 6-foot-4 receiver posted one of the fastest 40-yard dash times ever recorded by a player his size, becoming the tallest player to run sub-4.30 since 2003.
2025 season recap
As a rookie, Thornton appeared in 15 games with 8 starts for Las Vegas, catching 10 passes for 135 yards and averaging 13.5 yards per reception. He debuted with two catches for 45 yards in a Raiders win over New England, showing flashes of the big-play ability that got him drafted.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dont'e Thornton
- ESPN: Dont'e Thornton Jr.
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
15 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | raiders | 15 | 10 | 135 | 13.5 | 0 | 36 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Tennessee
- Hometown
- Baltimore, MD, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
