John Thornton was drafted No. 52 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 1999 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. 143 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #52
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1999
- NFL games
- 143
- Years as starter
- 8
- Career AV
- 516th at West Virginia
The pick
How John Thornton came off the board in 1999.
- Position
- Defensive tackle DT
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
143 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value
- Games played
- 143
- Seasons as a starter
- 8
- Career approximate value
- 516th among West Virginia picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2039% of career value
- Final season
- 20089 years after the draft
Around pick 52
Who came off the board on either side of John Thornton.
Tulane
Florida
Tennessee
Boston College
West Virginia in the 1999 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DT picks from West Virginia
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
John Thornton in the 1999 NFL Draft
John Thornton is a Defensive tackle out of West Virginia selected No. 52 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 1999 NFL Draft. 143 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value West Virginia has produced 106 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 John Thornton drafted?
John Thornton was selected No. 52 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 1999 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1999/john-thornton.
What college did John Thornton play for?
John Thornton played college football at West Virginia in the Big 12. See every West Virginia draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/west-virginia-mountaineers.
How did John Thornton's NFL career turn out?
143 regular-season games · 8 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1999/john-thornton.