Pete Carroll's confidence in the Las Vegas Raiders for 2025 is slightly fueled by having what he's never had before

Pete Carroll has never had a tight end as good as Brock Bowers

Even though it was just for a few seasons when Carroll coached the Seattle Seahawks, the best tight end he probably ever worked with was Jimmy Graham, who had a brief stint with Seattle after playing for the New Orleans Saints. In Seattle, he had 2000 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns from 2015-2017. Bowers is better.

"He's pretty much better than anyone we have ever had before," Carroll said on Sirius XM Radio. "He is as natural of a football player as you can imagine. Everything that he does just comes so easily to him. He has a knack for, when you throw him the football, it looks like you threw it exactly to the right spot. He kind of moves to put the ball exactly where it is supposed to be.

"He has amazing body control, is really explosive; you see him take off and run, and he looks just like a wide receiver out here. And, you just can't not go to him. Last year, he caught 100 and something balls, so you just can't not go to him. He's just too good, and there is nothing that he can't do. He can play outside, he can play inside, he can play from the regular tight end position, so we just keep learning and growing with him, and feel very fortunate to have him."

Bowers, as a rookie, finished pretty much first in almost every receiving category among tight ends across the league. He had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever, and maybe the greatest rookie season from a tight end ever, as he hauled in nearly 1,200 receiving yards with five touchdowns, and that was in a bad offense with several different QBs. We can only assume that he will continue to improve.

In 2025, he will once again be the feature piece in the offense, as he's easily the best playmaker on that side of the ball. But, this time around, the Raiders should have an at least competent offense with Chip Kelly calling the shots, and Geno Smith at quarterback. Not to mention, last season, the Raiders were the worst rushing team in the entire league. They drafted Ashton Jeanty in the first round, and appear to have an average offensive line.

It's going to be fun watching Bowers in year two, and it's likely a huge reason why Carroll is so confident in what his team will be doing in 2025. There's still the defensive side of the ball, too, but Patrick Graham has had that unit near the top of the league the last few seasons, with a below-average roster, making more happen with less.

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