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Titans Land Coveted Local Prospect in Latest Mock Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 6:49 PM ET

The Tennessee Titans have seemingly zeroed in on their selection with the No. 1 overall pick. Miami quarterback Cam Ward will almost certainly hear his name called first at the NFL Draft on Thursday, but this will be just the beginning of the journey for the Titans.

New general manager Mike Borgonzi failed to find playmakers for the young quarterback in free agency, signing no significant skill position players and letting wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine leave without a contract. While the team does have a solid tandem of running backs, there is no shortage of pass-catchers in the draft, and the Titans cannot afford to leave without a handful of them.

On Monday, ESPN's Jordan Reid released a mock draft , and the Titans selected Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round to pair with Ward. However, he predicted that the franchise would double up at the position, also selecting University of Tennessee wideout Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the fifth round.

Thornton is one of the most impressive athletes in the NFL Draft, and it is a miracle that a local prospect like this fell to the Titans at No. 141 in this projection. The former Volunteer stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 205 pounds, and the long-armed receiver ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

While his production was not top-notch in college, he still fared well in the SEC. Thornton caught 26 passes as a senior, totaling 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns, also boasting a nation-leading 25.4 yards per catch. If the Titans land Thornton in the draft, not only could he help the team tremendously, but he wouldn't have to go very far to do it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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