James Thornton was drafted No. 105 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1988 NFL Draft out of Cal State Fullerton. 96 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 12 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #105
- Round
- 4
- Draft class
- 1988
- NFL games
- 96
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 123rd at Cal State Fullerton
The pick
How James Thornton came off the board in 1988.
- Position
- Tight end TE
- College
- Cal State Fullerton
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
96 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 12 career approximate value
- Games played
- 96
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 123rd among Cal State Fullerton picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1083% of career value
- Final season
- 19957 years after the draft
Around pick 105
Who came off the board on either side of James Thornton.
Winston-Salem State
Southern
Oklahoma
Michigan
Cal State Fullerton in the 1988 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Thornton in the 1988 NFL Draft
James Thornton is a Tight end out of Cal State Fullerton selected No. 105 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1988 NFL Draft. 96 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 12 career approximate value Cal State Fullerton has produced 19 NFL draft picks since 1981.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was James Thornton drafted?
James Thornton was selected No. 105 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 4). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/james-thornton.
What college did James Thornton play for?
James Thornton played college football at Cal State Fullerton. See every Cal State Fullerton draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/calstatefullerton.
How did James Thornton's NFL career turn out?
96 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 12 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/james-thornton.