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Dont'e Thornton signs rookie contract with Las Vegas Raiders

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•05/11/25•

GrantRamey

Dont'e Thornton, Las Vegas Raiders
Dont'e Thornton, Las Vegas Raiders

Dont’e Thornton has signed his rookie contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, reportedly valued at $5.25 million over four years. The former Tennessee Football receiver got a $1,050,896 signing bonus.

Thornton will earn $840,000 in base pay as a rookie, going up to $1,005,000 in 2026, $1,120,000 in 2027 and $1,235,000 in 2028. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2029. 

He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, selected at No. 108 overall.

Thornton was one of four Tennessee players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft last month. Edge rusher James Pearce went at No. 26 overall in the first round to the Atlanta Falcons, followed by defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott in the second round at No. 63 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Running back Dylan Sampson was also picked in the fourth round, selected at No. 126 overall by the Cleveland Browns. 

Dont’e Thornton set career-highs during 2024 season

Thornton is coming off a career year in his final season at Tennessee, catching 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. He spent two seasons with the Vols after transferring from Oregon. 

Over the last four seasons Thornton had 65 catches for 1,426 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had 26 catches for 541 yards and three touchdowns over two seasons at Oregon, then 39 catches for 885 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons at Tennessee. 

“Looking at Jalin Hyatt and how he had won the Biletnikoff (Award) in 2022, and seeing how explosive the offense was,” Thornton said of his transfer to Tennessee, “I just felt like it was the perfect match for me. 

“At that time I was the No. 1 receiver in the portal that year. So for me, having aspirations of wanting to go to the NFL, being a receiver, I felt like Tennessee was the best option for me.”

Dont’e Thornton ran a 4.3 in the 40 at NFL Combine

Thornton was the 15th wide receiver selected in the NFL Draft, which included three first-rounders, four second-rounders and is third-rounders. 

He ran a 4.3 in the 40 at the NFL Draft Combine in February. He also had a time of 1.51 seconds in the 10-yard split, a 33-inch vertical jump and a 10-6 broad jump. 

“Along with being a deep threat down the field, being a big guy that’s fast, ” Thornton said after getting drafted, “honestly (the Raiders are) just bringing a good guy into the program. A guy that is going to do whatever it takes to make the program better. 

“Doing my 1% all the time. Come in, be a great guy for the team.”

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