The Las Vegas Raiders might not have a No. 1 wide receiver. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a No. 1 target for their quarterback to throw to, as Brock Bowers occupies that role.
Despite dealing with an injury during the entire 2025 season, Bowers played 437 pass snaps, leading to a 78.8 overall PFF grade. Moreover, he hauled in 64 receptions on 83 targets for 680 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Bowers also averaged 10.6 yards per reception, generated 296 yards after the catch, and was charged with three drops. The Raiders tight end is likely worried about his third year in the league and how he’ll perform, but on the business side, Bowers is nearing his first major contract.
While speaking to the media on Aug. 23, Eric Stokes issued a blunt prediction regarding Bowers and what he stands to make among the best tight ends.
“He’s very difficult to cover,” Stokes told reporters. “We always say he’s the highest-paid tight end. He might not be the highest-paid right now, but when his time comes, we know he’s going to be the highest-paid.”
Erick Stokes on What Makes Raiders’ Brock Bowers So Good
Moreover, Stokes noted what makes Bowers so challenging to cover and why he’s a headache for any opposing defense that the Raiders will face this season.
“That’s an unbelievable skill set,” Stokes added. “Brock can go block, dig out your best D-end that you got, but then still go out there and be on your No. 1 corner and still make him look like a fool.
“It’s just kind of crazy how Brock has both of those things, but it’s unbelievable how he stays in front of it. I love going against Brock. It’s iron sharpening iron. I know for a fact I ain’t facing no better tight end than him. It’s easy like that.”
Nakobe Dean on Being Teammates Again With Brock Bowers
Nonetheless, while the Raiders are in a rebuild, there are building blocks to turn this team around. Las Vegas is counting on Bowers to play a major role this 2026 NFL season.
While speaking to reporters on Aug. 4, Raiders linebacker Nakobe Dean noted that the Raiders tight end has made him a better linebacker dating back to when they were teammates with the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2021 season.
“I give Brock all the praise in the world,” Dean said. “Even from, like I said, his days at Georgia when he came in as a freshman, I know he made me, Quay [Walker] and our whole linebacker group exponentially better. He’s doing the same here.
“The only thing he has to do is be himself. In practice and in the games, but especially in practice, him being himself is going to make us better as a linebacker core and as a defense.”
It will be interesting to see if Bowers can stay healthy this season and produce numbers similar to his rookie season to really grab that title as the best tight end in the league. Moreover, as Stokes and Dean mentioned, going up against a healthy Bowers in practice will only help the defense improve.
Raiders’ Brock Bowers Lands Major Contract Prediction