The Brock Bowers Train, Full Steam Ahead

(Image via Highlights/Raiders.com)

By: Lucas Kochevar

There might not be a more interesting division than the AFC West. The Chiefs are the obvious headliner, but you also have the likes Jim Harbaugh in LA and Sean Payton in Denver. Even with those two guys, the Raiders could easily steal all the shine, if they come out swinging this season. There’s multiple reasons with Pete Carroll becoming the head coach and Tom Brady being involved as an owner. 

What about the team on the field?

They could be a ton of fun too. It’s a major work in progress, but they’ve overhauled the offense with Geno Smith in as QB and stud rookie Ashton Jeanty in the backfield. Even with those two big additions, their best offensive player is in the building. Brock Bowers took the league by storm last year. He put up numbers that easily put him in discussion as the best tight end in the league, as a rookie. 

Sometimes guys are easy to evaluate coming out of college and it just makes sense when they come in ready to go. Kyle Hamilton was one of those guys coming out of Notre Dame and his teammate, Roquan Smith out of UGA, was an easy evaluation. Bowers was the exact same type of guy and lived up to his high draft status. Now, Bowers has the challenge of replicating or going beyond his rookie production. 

That feat isn’t easy for most successful rookie tight ends. In recent history, Kyle Pitts and Sam LaPorta standout as two guys that fell into slumps in their sophomore campaigns. Pitts dropped from 1,026 yards his first year to 356 yards, while being banged up. LaPorta wasn’t as bad as he dropped from 889 yards to 726 yards, but anyone will tell you that he wasn’t as dominant as he was his rookie year. 

Bowers should be okay as his quarterback play will improve dramatically, as he goes from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell to Smith. He should also benefit from Jeanty coming into the fold. Although his touches could go down, the attention won’t be super focused on slowing down Bowers. He could have more vertical chances and do what does best, run after the catch.