Dont'e Thornton Jr. could really benefit from Fernando Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders selected wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. with a fourth-round pick in last year's draft. Thornton was a raw product coming out of Tennessee , but the intangibles were undeniable. He's a 6-foot-5 receiver who ran a 4.30 at the NFL Combine.

Unsurprisingly, Thornton struggled as a rookie. Like all of the Raiders receivers, he was occasionally a victim of lackluster quarterback play from Geno Smith , Aidan O'Connell , and Kenny Pickett . That also doesn't tell the complete story. Thornton deserves plenty of blame for his disappointing rookie season, as mental and technical errors were made that prevented him from securing more playing time and targets.

Thornton is one of the Raiders who should benefit from the new coaching staff. Head coach Klint Kubiak possesses a brilliant offensive mind. Kubiak has also developed young receivers in recent years such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed .

The Raiders are also preparing to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Mendoza's arrival should deliver a boost to the playmakers on the roster. Thornton's raw ability would really benefit from having a franchise quarterback with a big arm, accuracy, and poise.

If the Raiders are to improve in 2026 and accelerate the rebuild, they'll need young players on the roster to take developmental steps forward. Thornton is among the handful of talents capable of enjoying a much better sophomore season. Hopefully Mendoza will help Thornton unlock his full potential.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Dont'e Thornton Jr. could really benefit from Fernando Mendoza