Raiders double down in fourth round with speedy receiver

After drafting Jack Bech in the second round, the Las Vegas Raiders have continued to build up their receiver corps.

With the 108th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr.

With a top three receiving corps of Jakobi Meyers, Bech and Tre Tucker, the Raiders clearly placed an emphasis on getting their offense on track. However, they still desired a need to find a legitimate deep threat in that group. Thornton being on the roster solves that problem, giving Geno Smith someone he can target deep downfield.

What Thornton brings to the Raiders

Thornton is the exact type of prospect the late Al Davis would have drafted a round or two earlier; he checks all the athletic boxes NFL teams want to see.

A six-foot-five receiver running a 4.3 second 40-yard dash time is almost unheard of, but that is the type of freakish athlete the Raiders now have at their disposal. Despite receiving minimal targets with Tennessee, he emerged as the most physically gifted receiver on their roster. His lack of a real route tree limits his early role to a vertical threat, but the Raiders may have found themselves an excellent complementary weapon to Brock Bowers if he develops properly.

The Las Vegas Strip may have just gained another star attraction with this pick.