Jim Thornton is a career quality starter — a tight end whose body of work places Thornton in the top quarter of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Thornton's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
Jim Thornton
Height6'2"
Weight242 lb
BornFeb 8, 1965
Age61
Rookie yr1988
A high-end tight end defined as much by exceptional availability — almost never missed time as by their on-field impact (top 20% all-time). Coaches and teammates could count on them being available.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 97 · #1167 · High-ValueWorth 97 points of value above a freely-available replacement tight end — top 26% of all 4,649 ranked at the position. 6 of 6 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +16.2 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
6 cleared
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
46
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
Career Value · VORP
97 career value over replacement — #1167 all-time of 4,649. 16.2/season above a replacement-level TE.
Draft OutcomeSteal ↑
Pick #105 (Rd 4) · CHI · 1988 · +29.3 vs expected KV-H
65actual
35.7 expected · Δ+29.3
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