The Las Vegas Raiders may have woefully underperformed during the 2024 season, but they can rest easier knowing they have the next superstar tight end in Brock Bowers.
Bowers had a historic rookie season, breaking the rookie record for most receptions and yards by a tight end as well as the overall receptions record previously held by Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua. Bowers recorded 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, an excellent sign that he has even more upside as a player.
Las Vegas did well to get a true starting quarterback in Geno Smith to help Bowers’ development, as the young tight end certainly seems ready to handle more offensive responsibility. This offseason, Bowers was a participant in Tight End University, an annual event meant to bring the tight end community closer together.
In an appearance on ‘Bussin’ With The Boys, ‘ Bowers revealed what he took away from some of the veterans like George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski at Tight End University, as transcribed by Anthony Galaviz of Yardbarker.com:
“Kittle, probably, he’s got the tenacity when he’s blocking,” Bowers said. “He’s nasty, he’s a really good blocker. And just effort-wise, too, downfield. He’s awesome to watch playing. And then Kelce just gets open, filling voids. I mean, he does such a good job of that. It’s like filling open space and just getting open. And then Gronk running after the catch, it’s pretty fun to watch him.”
Kittle, Kelce and Gronkowski will go down as three of the best tight ends to ever play the game, so hearing Bowers say he absorbed all the information he could should make Raiders fans excited. Bowers can truly do it all on the football field, though now he’s beginning to understand how else he can better his overall game.
It’s scary to think what Bowers could become in the right offensive system, as he’s a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses. Linebackers are far too slow to keep up with him, while defensive backs are smaller and less physical than he is.
The sky’s the limit for Bowers, and it’ll be exciting to see how he does in Year 2.
Former general manager Tom Telesco may have been fired, but drafting Brock Bowers certainly helped his case for future openings. Telesco explained that he and the Raiders drafted Bowers because he felt the team needed to improve overall in terms of talent.
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