Silver And Black Pride
Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer will grab the headlines — and for good reason.
That Las Vegas Raiders tight end duo is slated to be used quite often in head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense as the play caller’s penchant to use multiple sets is well-documented.
But it goes beyond two-tight end alignments.
Kubiak isn’t shy to deploy three-tight end sets in a way that defies the traditionalist method of being a predictable running formation. Bucking the trend is a calling card for the Silver & Black’s new head honcho and while we’ll see aplenty good 12 Personnel (one running back and two tight ends) as it’s a staple of his arsenal, it’ll get really interesting if/when Kubiak trots out 13 and 23 Personnel (three tight ends) packages.
Which means, the Raiders’ depth at the position group is critical. Bowers and Mayer are undoubtedly integral to Kubiak’s operation but as we’re all too aware: Injuries can happen at any time. As such, the reserve roles behind Las Vegas young top tow tight ends is equally as vital.
By The Numbers
Raiders Tight Ends
Of the six tight ends on the Raiders 90-man roster as they head into training camp later this month (July 23 for rookies, July 28 for veterans), Thomas notched the most snaps on the team in 2025. The 30-year-old blocking tight end — who is a sneaky pass catcher — logged 318 snaps on 15 games played (10 of which were as a starter) and caught 13 passes for 114 yards.
Thought to walk in free agency, Raiders general manager re-signed the veteran to a modest one-year, $1.6 million deal a month after free agency began in March. But Thomas’ sustained blocking experience and ability to catch the rock, too, adds a familiar and reliable depth piece to Kubiak’s offense.
Carter Runyon is next in terms of an incumbent who earned snaps in 2025. An undrafted free agent out of Towson, the 24-year-old notched 45 snaps on offense and was a special teamer with 206 snaps. Finishing his rookie season with just one catch for three yards in 13 games played (zero starts), Runyon was relegated to supreme depth piece behind Thomas. Like his veteran counterpart, Runyon offers sneaky receiver skills as a leak and/or play action option as the youngster is more of a receiving tight end. He’s both a vertical and horizontal threat who brings deceptive speed for his size.
Then, there’s Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., a fleet-footed veteran who logged 31 snaps on offense in the lone game he played in 2025: A 40-6 lambasting the Raiders suffered at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, on...
