The Year 2 Bar For Raiders Wide Receiver Don’te Thornton Jr.

Over the course of the “Year 2 bar” series for the Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL Draft picks, we’ve explored what kind of impact to expect from the second-year players.

For Dont’e Thornton Jr. — the Tennessee wide receiver the Silver & Black took in the fourth round (108th overall) in last year’s draft — the bar is not only lower, but is more distinct compared to his 2025 draft classmates: Make the team.

This is a byproduct of the freakishly tall (6-foot-5 and 205 pounds) and fast (4.30-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine) being an old-school Raiders fit on physical traits alone, but have minimal impact his rookie season in 2025. Height and speed alone tends to get prospects looks by NFL teams so taking a swing on the Tennessee product was apt in the middle rounds of the draft.

But after flashes in the offseason and training camp after being drafted and early in the regular season — including a clutch long catch by Thornton against the New England Patriots in Week 1 last season helping seal the victory on the road — the 23-year-old’s confidence dipped severely as the season went on. And even when he garnered substantial snaps (such as in Weeks 2, 7, and 16), he was targeted 11 times hauling in just three passes for 32 yards with zero end zone visits.

By The Numbers
Dont’e Thornton Jr., Wide Receiver, 2nd Year

• 2025: 15 games (5 starts), 30 targets, 10 receptions, 135 yards, 0 touchdowns
• Career: See Above

According to Pro Football Reference, Thornton logged 399 snaps on offense as a rookie (zero on special teams, oddly enough), and was targeted 30 times hauling in 10 of them for 130 yards. He was charted with three drops (a 10 percent drop rate).

Thus a sophomore surge is warranted for for the Maryland native. Especially on a Klint Kubiak-led team which features an offensive-minded head coach that is also the play caller. If there’s a coach that can develop and guide a raw but talented Thornton, it’s Kubiak and his coaching staff. However, availability has long been the best ability by a player, and the wideout is more observer than participator on a recent string of practices.

Thornton needs to showcase himself to the new coaching staff and after leaving practice earlier this month, he’s been working on the side without a definitive timetable for return despite Kubiak hoping he’d have his wide receiver available. In both the preseason opener on Aug. 13 and the second exhibition clash this past Thursday with the Houston Texans, you could see Thornton in street clothes on the sideline.

That’s not where he wants to be.

Especially with other wide receivers not only getting valuable reps and snaps, but putting on valuable game and practice film that Kubiak and his coaches will pour over to make final 53-man roster decisions and the ensuing 16-man practice squad (17 if the Raiders use the International Player Pathway Program slot for undrafted free agent Kansei Matsuzawa).

Late-round rookie — Malik Benson, selected by the Raiders in the sixth round (195th overall) of the 2026 draft — opened eyes this offseason with his speed, route running, and soft hands. The 6-foot-1 and 195-pound Oregon product is a burner getting plenty of work on offense and special teams and is piquing fan interest — much like Thornton did as a rookie. But after a deep catch against Houston, the Kansas native had his bouts of drops and it’ll be intriguing to see Benson’s mental toughness going forward.

Will his confidence sink or swim?

Kubiak’s own confidence in the wide receiver room is just as questionable.

“Yeah, I learned a lot in that we have to get a lot better very fast. That we took a step backwards; doesn’t mean we can’t go forward,” Kubiak said when asked what did he learn about his position group over the last couple of days with the joint practices and preseason clash with Houston. “But right now, we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday. Still looking.”

The last two words provides Thornton an ample door to kick in and make the coaching staff take notice — if he can get back on the field soon.

Despite overshadowing NFL cornerbacks with his size, Thornton doesn’t play like a 6-foot-5 wideout who can outleap and out-physical defenders at the catch point. With his confidence waning last season, Thornton played more like 5-foot-8 teammate Tre Tucker than imposing himself on defenders. Engraining the belief that he’s simply bigger and faster than defensive backs tasked with covering him is a must-do in Year 2.

Being able to play stronger and not get locked up by cornerbacks while aggressively outleaping them for the ball i flight is what Thornton needs to consistently showcase.

Having elite size and speed is no good if the athlete doesn’t know how to or want to use it to their advantage.

Then comes the heavy stuff, such as improving route running (refined sharper cuts to add more than just run fast deep down the field). Kubiak asks his wide receivers to run a full route tree and at this point in time, Thornton is the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree with straight-line deep routes being sparse branch.

Kubiak did well to hire Zach Azzanni as his wide receivers coach as the 50-year-old assistant boasts a maniacal focus on fundamental techniques that’s no-nonsense, demanding, but focused on developing pass catchers. That’s similar to the Raiders’ head coach’s philosophy and Azzanni uses relentless drill repetition to instill the attention to detail and fundamentals into his wide receiver room that sharpens not only physical attributes but mental, too. And Thornton most definitely needs both.

“Same thing with Dont’e. I always tell our room that the tape is our resume, let the tape be our guide,” Azzanni said of Thornton in early August. “So, all of those guys, if they have a down day, they got to come back and have a better day. We just press play. We evaluate it every day. He’s had a couple rough days and he’s bounced back and had some good plays here and there. And that’s what we’re looking for in training camp, we’re installing all this stuff. Everything’s not going to be perfect, but I am pleased he’s got a great attitude. He’s working his tail off. I saw some improvement today, which was good. We go day by day in training camp, so he’s coming along like the rest of them.”

First, Thornton needs a clean bill of health to get back into the mix. From there, make an impression with the remaining practices and final preseason game (this coming Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers). NFL cut day — the drastic shift from 90-man to 53-man rosters — is on August 30 so time is dwindling. But with Kubiak wanting his wide receiver room to step up, there’s a window for Thornton.

And making the final roster is the immediate bar in Year 2. Matching or improving upon his rookie numbers would be icing on the cake. And isn’t that a bit disconcerting for a player drafted in the fourth round just last year?