With only six picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Cardinals have to nail each and every one of them. Luckily, this class is seen as one of the deepest in recent years. Even in the later rounds, teams can find potential starters.
Arizona may choose to focus on needs like cornerback and interior offensive line in the early rounds. If they do, they’ll need to find a field-stretching receiver late.
One pass-catcher out of Tennessee fits the bill.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. is the perfect late-round pick for the Arizona Cardinals
If you’re building the ideal wide receiver from a physical standpoint, you’ll probably end up with something that looks a lot like Dont’e Thornton Jr. out of Tennessee. He’s 6’5” with blazing speed, able to take the top off of the defense. At the NFL Combine, Thornton ran a 4.3-second forty-yard dash.
Despite his eye-catching combination of size and speed, Thornton is expected to fall to the sixth round. The Athletic's Dane Brugler has him ranked outside of the top 200 prospects. How is a player with his athletic profile not considered a top ten receiver in the class?
Thornton is extremely limited as a player. Almost all of his production came on deep posts and vertical routes. According to PFF, his average depth of target last season was a whopping 16.5 yards. He is not a refined route runner and struggles to win contested catches.
Still, he’s exactly what the Cardinals need at receiver.
Arizona has the perfect receiving options in short and intermediate areas. Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson all thrive on finding windows and winning at the catch point. But in 2024, the offense lacked a deep threat to create space underneath for these players. As a result, the field was often too congested for these Cardinals stars to get open.
Dont’e Thornton Jr., at his best, solves that problem. The Cardinals could put him on the outside, opposite Marvin Harrison Jr., and let him threaten defensive backs over the top of the defense. Defensive coordinators would be forced to account for his speed, leaving openings underneath for Kyler Murray to throw into.
If the Cardinals feel confident in Thornton’s ability to fill their need at receiver, they can solve their other issues with premium picks. This move could unlock the Cardinals offense, allowing it to become the thrilling unit fans have been yearning for.