The Kansas City Chiefs signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling in 2022, hoping to add a vertical threat to their offense. That signing didn’t offer long-term value, and the offense’s success stretching the field declined in recent years. The Chiefs could begin threatening defenses downfield by selecting Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the 2025 NFL draft.
Thornton offers the best combination of height, weight, speed and arm length among wide receivers in the draft. He’s 6'4 5/8", 205 lbs. with 32 1/8’’ arms and ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash among all participants at this year’s Combine at 4.3. Thornton is a freakish speedster with rare physical tools for the position.
Thornton explodes off the line to quickly eat up the cornerback’s cushion in off-man or stack press-man corners. His speed makes him a threat to split two-high safeties on post routes and generate explosive downfield plays. He excels at taking the top off defenses and creating space underneath for his teammates.
Tennessee WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. is one of my favorite day 3 receiver options for the #Titans. There's a lot of projection required for his eval (due to limited route tree in the offense, injury issues, and a lack of press man reps) but the athleticism is unreal.
— Drew (@IronCityFilm) March 15, 2025
-ran a 4.30 40… pic.twitter.com/2ZjHbOemhA
Thornton sinks his hips well for a larger receiver and uses quick footwork at the top of the stem to execute tight turns on curls and comebacks. However, hip tightness prevents him from separating on more complex routes. He relies heavily on his speed to separate and lacks a complete route tree.
Thornton benefited from Tennessee’s offense creating free releases and significant space for him to operate. He won’t receive these opportunities in the NFL. His release package needs work, and he must become more consistent playing through contact early in the route.
Thornton doesn’t dominate in contested catch situations, but he works back to underthrown passes to secure receptions over trailing cornerbacks. He tracks the ball well over his shoulder and usually catches it outside his frame on throws over the middle of the field. Thornton sometimes defaults to body catches.
Thornton’s elite speed erases pursuit angles after the catch, and he doesn’t slow down much on long catch-and-runs. He isn’t elusive in the open field and lacks the play strength to break tackles consistently. He’s a linear athlete instead of a twitchy creator. Thornton projects as a fifth round selection and complementary role player.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2025 NFL draft scouting report: Tennessee WR Dont'e Thornton Jr.
