Former NFL player Kevin Ware Jr. was sentenced today ... Overall, he played just five games for the 49ers before signing with the Oakland Raiders, although he never actually suited up for them.

Dont'e Thornton Jr. is the kind of pick former Oakland/Los Angeles ... though the Raiders believe he can expand to a full route tree-type player. That's a good outlook for a player so gifted ...

and the Raiders now hope to take a chance on him. If all works out, Tasi could end up being the defensive equivalent to a fellow Aussie and rugby-turned-football star in Philadelphia Eagles ...