Silver And Black Pride
Las Vegas has young star power at the position group
A second-year superstar who can get even better. And a young tag team partner who hasn’t tapped into their full potential yet.
With Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer on the roster, it’s easy to see why the tight end position group is the least of the Las Vegas Raiders concerns as they prep for the 2025 season.
Bowers lived up to the “NFL-ready” label bestowed upon him heading into the 2024 NFL Draft and the 13th overall pick was spectacular in his record-setting rookie season. And the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Georgia product is the youngest in the position group at age 22.
Mayer, meanwhile, is bigger than his higher-drafted position mate at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds and enters his third season in Las Vegas after plucked with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 draft. While Bowers arrived as a mismatch nightmare as a receiver, it’s Mayer who came to the NFL seen as an all-around receiver/blocker combination.
At 23 years of age, Mayer along with Bowers give Las Vegas two young tight ends who can get even better.
By The Numbers:
Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia
Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame
The second-year tight end was a late arriver to Raiders offseason team activities (OTAs) but for good reason: Bowers finished up his courses to earn his degree at Georgia. Yet, once Bowers was back and in the mix, the new coaching staff saw for themselves, what the Napa native brings to brings to the table.
“So, he missed the first two or three weeks of phase two, so we didn’t see him when we were all first here when we got to see everybody at first glance. But when he came in here, he was as advertised, and unbelievable work ethic, unbelievable attention to detail,” Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said of Bowers. “All the things you’re looking for in a player, along with just a unique skill set, to have a guy that big and that athletic and moves in that way is kind of special. So, we’re really excited about what he can bring for us.”
Bowers played in all 17 games his rookie season (16 starts) and earned 956 total snaps (85 percent of the offense’s total). He lead the team in targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns (153, 112, 1,194, and five) and drew double-digit looks in seven games. His lowest targets were a meager three in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns.
But as Kelly noted above, Bowers skill set lends itself to production — even in a bad 2024 Raiders offense. So sky’s the limit into 2025 with Kelly and head coach Pete Carroll.
Listed at about 35 pounds heaver than Bowers, Mayer brings a more physical element to...
