It didn't take long for Dont'e Thornton to leave his mark on the Las Vegas Raiders' coaching staff. The NFL rookie has already secured his spot in the starting lineup before the Raiders take the field for their first preseason game of the year.
Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has continued to praise Thornton and his fit in the Raiders' offense, speaking to the media about it. Thornton has been a continued bright spot in the Raiders' offense and someone Carroll has been excited to see play.
"Dont'e [Thornton] continues to do stuff. He's making plays; he went deep yesterday. You guys saw that, right? He's made tough catches over the middle. He's caught the slant routes where he's getting banged around. And he's comfortable with it."
“Dont'e continues to do stuff…He's made tough catches over the middle. He's caught the slant routes where he's getting banged around. And he's comfortable with it.” - Raiders head coach Pete Carroll on former Tennessee WR Dont’e Thornton pic.twitter.com/ACEt6BdMcj
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) July 30, 2025
Raiders.com writer Levi Edwards didn't hesitate to call out Thornton for his impressive play, either, crediting the former Vol as one of the most consistent targets for Geno Smith, who is preparing for his first season with the Raiders.
"Dont'e Thornton Jr. has seen a lot of reps at outside receiver opposite of Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers," Edwards writes on Raiders.com." [Thornton] was a constant target for Geno Smith throughout practice, reeling in a highly contested catch in the end zone during red zone period."
It has been clear that Thornton has made an impact with his coaches and the media. Most importantly, his teammates have recognized his consistency, hard work, and effort throughout the offseason, as Maxx Crosby also spoke highly of him on his podcast.
"Dont'e Thornton, the dude we drafted from Tennessee, the big receiver," Crosby said. "6-foot-4, another freak, I think he might be 6-foot-5. Runs a 4.30 [40-yard dash time].
"It's crazy because a kid like that has had success in college, but he hasn't hit his full potential yet. Seeing him on the field and realizing what he can be, from a player perspective, is like holy s–t, this dude could be something serious."
Thornton could be the playmaker the Raiders need to take the next step towards a successful playoff run in the Pete Carroll era.
If he can be the reliable target Geno Smith needs at quarterback, the Raiders could be an exciting team to watch over the next few years.
The Raiders will open their preseason with a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the former home of Carroll and Smith. This will be Thornton's first opportunity to play against an opponent in a game-like setting. This will also be the first look at the Raiders' offense with Thornton as one of their top receivers.