Raiders Tight Ends Have Carried Las Vegas So Far

The Las Vegas Raiders have one of the most potent tight end combinations in the NFL, and both Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer are starring in different ways. Mayer has taken control as the team’s in-line tight end, while Bowers is taking advantage of his receiving skills to set up outside and become one of the most prolific tight ends in the game. 

It wasn’t always this way, though, as Mayer initially struggled when Bowers arrived. He was also injured early in his career, but the two tight ends have since become fast friends, according to a report from Levi Edwards of Raiders.com. 

The Raiders have developed a new level of camaraderie under new coach Klint Kubiak, which is a welcome change given the ongoing chaos that characterized Pete Carroll’s brief but disastrous tenure as head coach last year. 

The bond between the two tight ends has become close, in part because it’s personal. Bowers got engaged this summer, and Mayer also has a fiance, with the two women spending time together as the tight ends battle on the field. 

Bowers is the more staid of the two. He was called a “football robot” by Kubiak, which is especially high praise from a coach with a reputation as a grinder. Mayer, meanwhile, is more outgoing, but the mutual respect is real despite of the opposite personalities — or maybe just because of that 

Regardless, the production is impressive, and Edwards used both basic and advanced stats to make that point. Through six games, the two tight ends are tied for the team lead in receptions with 28 and have combined for 648 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

The advanced stats are also noteworthy. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, the Raiders have gained 1,345 yards out of multiple tight end personnel groupings, the most by any team this season and the second-most by any team through six weeks in the Next Gen Stats era. 

Center Tyler Linderbaum has a unique perspective on the two tight ends from his position in the middle of the offensive line, and he sees two players who can block and catch passes. That’s unique, especially given that both tight ends have a team-oriented approach. 

The rest of the Raiders roster has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the talent level, and until they do the Raiders will have to rely on Bowers and Mayer to carry the lion’s share of the load.