Surprising Raiders Rookie is Turning Heads at Minicamp originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Las Vegas Raiders struggled on offense during the 2024 season, scoring just 18.2 points per game under head coach Antonio Pierce. Part of the issue was poor quarterback play, but offensive coordinator Luke Getsy also failed to find solutions.
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Not only was Getsy fired during the team’s bye week, but the Raiders also shipped off former All-Pro wideout Davante Adams, leaving Jakobi Meyers as the team’s only established wide receiver.
This offseason, however, new general manager John Spytek prioritized the position in the 2025 NFL Draft. He selected three wideouts, one in each of the second, fourth and sixth rounds.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Dont’e Thornton (1).BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
While Jack Bech was the first receiver taken by the Silver and Black during the draft, it has actually been No. 108 overall pick Dont’e Thornton that has caught the most attention during OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
“Perfect placement for Geno Smith, finding Dont’e Thornton for a touchdown with two defensive backs draped over him,” Raiders.com’s Levi Edwards wrote. “This offseason, Thornton has been one of, if not the most impressive rookie for the #Raiders.”
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Thornton has certainly made his share of big plays and been commended for them, but his efforts have also earned him a bigger role so far than most expected from him.
“During the red zone period, #Raiders QB Geno Smith threw a TD pass to rookie wide receiver Dont’e Thornton in tight coverage,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote. “Thornton has been getting quite a bit of work with the first team.”
At 6-foot-5 with 4.3-second 40-yard dash speed, Thornton was going to be a commodity in the late rounds for NFL teams. However, the Raiders scooped him up in the fourth round.
His senior season at Tennessee, Thornton caught 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. His 25.4 yards per catch led the country.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.