Lincoln Kennedy says Raiders WR Donte Thornton Jr. could be on the wrong side of the depth chart

The Las Vegas Raiders’ receiving room is entering 2026 with a sharper edge of evaluation, and former Raiders offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy believes fourth-round pick Donte Thornton Jr. may be running out of margin. In an appearance tied to the Raiders offseason, Kennedy framed Thornton’s situation as “the writing on the wall,” pointing to how the team’s receiving additions and targets could reshape snap distribution if Thornton does not show clear value.

According to Kennedy’s comments reported by Yahoo Sports, Thornton Jr. “got to see the field the most” among the team’s drafted receivers from the previous class, but his lack of production ultimately led him to slide down the depth chart by the end of the 2025 season. While the Raiders have not been described as making a specific transaction in the coverage, the underlying point is straightforward: early opportunity does not guarantee a long runway, especially for a wideout who is still being developed.

Kennedy also characterized Thornton as a “project” coming out of Tennessee, with rawness he associated with route-running skills. The broader theme from his remarks is that the athletic profile alone was not enough, and that Raiders coaching would expect sharper on-field execution to translate into targets and separation. He suggested that if that leap does not come, the developmental path narrows as the receiving group grows.

This offseason has added competition, and Kennedy pointed directly to two names: Jalen Nailor and Malik Benson. The reported rationale is that John Spytek’s addition of those receivers, combined with how the team has pursued Nailor, indicates that the Raiders may be looking for speed and playmaking traits that can win over the top. Kennedy’s view was that Nailor and Thornton “might” be competing for similar roles in the offense, and that the Raiders could be choosing which one emerges most reliably as training camp closes.

Kennedy’s comments included the idea that NFL rosters do not keep multiple players of the same archetype without differentiation. He grouped Thornton Jr. with Tre Tucker as another receiver “kind of” fitting the same broad profile, and argued the Raiders may not carry all three unless one or more consistently prove they can separate and contribute beyond the early-development stage. It is a veteran’s assessment of a common league reality: for receivers, production and reliability often become the tiebreakers faster than athletic upside.

For Thornton Jr., 2026 therefore looks like a year defined by what he does once the team’s practices and preseason opportunities are over, not simply what his tools look like on paper. The coverage frames the upcoming season as an important moment to “pick it up,” show value, and demonstrate what he can do consistently. If Thornton cannot reverse the trend from 2025, Kennedy’s contention suggests his role could shrink further even without any dramatic roster headline.

The practical takeaway for Raiders fans is that camp and early-season usage may reveal what coaches expect to see from the top receiving tier. Watch for whether Thornton earns a larger share of routes, whether his targets increase at key moments, and whether the staff leans more heavily into Nailor and Benson as speed-first threats. If those patterns appear, Kennedy’s belief that the “writing” is already on the wall will start to look less like opinion and more like the shape of the 2026 depth chart.

Still, the story has an important caveat. Kennedy’s assessment is about roster direction and development, not a confirmed decision by the Raiders, and the coverage does not establish any contract, injury, or disciplinary event. The most reliable way to evaluate the situation will be how the Raiders distribute playing time when games become the real proof. Until then, Thornton’s status remains a competitive question rather than a definitive outcome.