Klint Kubiak Is Turning Brock Bowers Into the NFL’s Most Dangerous Tight End

It only took one game into Brock Bowers‘ return for the 2026 season for Klint Kubiak to already start finding new ways to elevate his game even further and identify him as the offensive player he can have become the Jaxon Smith-Njigbaof the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offense.

In Week 3, Bowers caught 10-of-13 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders’ 35-27 comeback win over the New Orleans Saints. Right from the opening drive, it became clear Kubiak has identified Bowers as the offensive centerpiece in Las Vegas. 

Brock Bowers Can Fill The Jaxon Smith-Njigba Role

While Bowers, who is 6’4 and 235 pounds, won’t be able to do everything that a smaller, shiftier wide receiver like Smith-Njigba can do, he can still function similarly to ho Smith-Njigba did on the Seattle Seahawks for Kubiak. 

Smith-Njigba became Kubiak’s versatile option that he could align inside or outside, rely on to defeat man coverage or settle into openings against zone and create yards after the catch. Bowers offers that same freedom with more disguise.

If teams treat Bowers like a tight end, the Raiders can flex Bowers into space and attack the mismatch. If teams try to cover Bowers with a defensive back, they can keep him in-line and create an advantage in the run game.

By having an absolutely dominant player like Bowers, he will give Kubiak more freedom as a play caller, and it is clear that the same value Smith-Njigba had in Seattle with being their defining player, Bowers will have that same value in Las Vegas.