Josh Sanchez from Nevada asks:
"Who has been the biggest pleasant surprise this offseason?"
There's obviously been a few, but I'll go with one for offense and defense.
When Dont'e Thornton Jr. was drafted in the fourth round, there was clear potential for what he could emerge into. He could probably get by with his physical attributes and athleticism alone, being the tallest player at 6-foot-5 to run a 4.30 or faster 40-yard dash at the Combine since 2003.
However, Thornton has seemed to go the extra mile this offseason to position himself as a starting wideout for the Raiders. He's proven himself to be a more defined route runner than expected and his size and speed have made him compatible with Geno Smith.
"I got him right under my wing, man," Smith said of his relationship with Thornton. "He's one of those players who, he's only scratching the surface of who he's going to be. He's got all the physical talent in the world. He studies the game like he's a true professional. He loves football. That's something that I really like about him. And then he goes out there, he makes plays. I mean, not many guys are 6-foot-5, running a 4.3, got the hands and the catch radius that he has. He's got the ability to be really special, but we got to work. I'm just pushing him to make sure he's working on his craft, and he's been doing a great job."