Tucker was drafted following the first year Davante Adams was in Las Vegas. It was a time of dysfunction. Josh McDaniels was still the Head Coach but he parted ways with quarterback Derek Carr who coincidentally had just made his first Pro Bowl and was a key selling point to Adams being happy as a Raider. Tucker was brought in to give the team a vertical threat and special teams juice. He ran a 4.31 forty and the rest of that offense lacked the big play potential. As a rookie, albeit in limited looks, he finished with an average of 17.4 yards per catch, good for fourth in the NFL among receivers with 19+ catches. The 2024 season was supposed to be his year but he did not take the step up. While the lackluster offensive scheme and quarterback situation respectively lowered the ceiling, Tucker finished 74th in yards per reception of the 110 wide receivers that had 34+ targets, 85th in reception percentage, and 41st in yards after contact per reception. He also has made almost no impact as a returner.
If you have paid any attention to practice reports out of Las Vegas during the spring, you are sure to have heard about Thornton and his eye-opening start in the Black and Silver. The 6’4” / 205 pounder with credible 4.30 speed did not have an overly productive career at Tennessee (61 catches in four seasons) but he did lead the nation with 25.5 yards per reception among the 374 receivers with 16+ catches in his final year. He has been getting reps with Geno Smith and the first string offense with excellent results. Teammates and coaches alike have been singing his praises.
Prediction: Thornton
The new offense is going to need its vertical threat. Tucker did show he can be a guy as a rookie in 2023 but his lack of size has shown up. Thornton brings a much bigger and longer target with a higher gear once in the open field. Geno Smith just got done working with DK Metcalf in Seattle and Thornton gives him the closest thing to that caliber of weaponry. Tucker will be involved in the offense, but Thornton is the guy for the outside, especially considering most of the slot snaps will be split between Brock Bowers and Jackobi Meyers.