Dez Bryant envisions big things for one Raiders rookie wide receiver

Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant knows a good wide receiver when he sees one. After all, he was quite a talented wideout himself during his nine-year career.

Bryant is particularly high on one of the Las Vegas Raiders' rookie wide receivers, TCU product Jack Bech, who was taken in the second round of the 2026 draft.

"He will be playing in the NFL for a long time," Bryant said of Bech in a quote tweet of a report stating the young wideout had signed his rookie contract.

Bryant isn't the only one who is hyped for Bech. CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso thinks it won't be long before the former TCU star is making an impact in the NFL.

"Bech has as well-rounded of a game as any receiver in the rookie class. I mean that. Beyond blazing speed, he can do it all. And he will showcase that veteran-like polish for the Raiders early and often in 2025," Trapasso explained.

While Bech has shown flashes at practice in his first offseason, he has not garnered as much hype as fellow rookie wideout Dont'e Thornton, who was taken two rounds later.

"This offseason, Thornton has been one of, if not the most impressive rookie for the Raiders," Levi Edwards of Raiders.com wrote.

"Thornton was still thought to need plenty of polish to become a productive pro receiver. His college offense wasn’t too sophisticated. At OTAs, however, his footwork at the line of scrimmage appeared more advanced than advertised and his route running looked crisp. He could be further along than suspected," Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal explained.

Both Bech and Thornton have an opportunity to take on a major role right away.

Outside of Jakobi Meyers, the Raiders don't have a locked-in starter at the position, with third-year receiver Tre Tucker being the biggest threat to Bech's and Thornton's snaps.

Right now, we'd give the edge to Thornton grabbing a starting role over Bech, but it's very possible we'll see both rookies lining up as starters when Week 1 hits.

That will be decided when training camp begins this coming week.