Brock Bowers went into Sunday with NFL records under his belt and left owning more; a typical week for the Las Vegas Raiders‘ superstar tight end.
The Raiders might be one of the harder-to-watch teams in the National Football League, but don’t lump rookie tight end Brock Bowers in with that statement. Bowers, the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been sensational for Sin City since the very first game of his pro career.
The Georgia alum has proven the doubters wrong…
Through 16 contests, the Georgia alum has done what many would’ve considered impossible prior to the season’s start. On top of practically re-writing the rookie record books throughout league history, Bowers has managed to do things no Raiders player, regardless of position or career year, has ever been able to do.
Seasonal records started rolling in following Week 14’s contest, where Bowers finished his day totaling 87 catches on the year. The 22-year-old then became the new season-record holder for most receptions by a rookie tight end, breaking Sam LaPorta’s mark of 86 set in 2023.
Three contests later, Bowers finds himself with 108 catches to his name—a number higher than the overall rookie record of 105 Puka Nacua posted one season ago.
That wasn’t the only record Bowers set in Week 17, either.
Thanks to a 77-yard outing on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, Bowers carved his name next to the record of most receiving yardage by a tight end during their rookie campaign in NFL history. The two-time John Mackey Award winner now sits at 1,144 yards through the air, breaking Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka’s now-previous record of 1,076.
Not even Raiders records were safe on Sunday. Bowers’ 108 receptions is more than any player in Raiders history has recorded in a single season.
And those may not be the only records he breaks.
Las Vegas Raiders’ final contest: Does Brock Bowers have one more in him?
As Bowers prepares for the final contest of his rookie campaign, a formidable foe will be waiting for him: Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Harbaugh’s defense has allowed the 14th-least passing yardage this season, surrendering 3,292 yards through the air. As it pertains to this next record, however, Bowers and the Raiders may have a favorable matchup.
With 324 completions surrendered on the season, only 11 defenses across the NFL have allowed more passes to be hauled in than the Chargers’ defense. If you’re hoping Brock Bowers breaks the catch record for receptions by a tight end in any year of their career, this is nothing but good news.
Entering Week 18, Bowers needs nine catches to break the catch record for most receptions by a tight end in any year of their career. Zach Ertz currently leads any player at the position in league history with 116, followed by Evan Engram (114), Travis Kelce (110), Jason Witten (110), and Bowers at the fifth spot.
While a difficult task, it’s far from impossible, especially for someone with the skill set of Bowers.
As is, the Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate has hit that mark six times this season, totaling as many as 13 in one contest. He’s done it against incredible defenses, too. Against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13, Bowers notched 10 catches on the day. When facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, the rookie secured nine passes his way.
While the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award is quarterback-driven, it would be hard to pass on giving it to Bowers should he break that record. As is, it already feels wrong to give the award to anyone else amid such a historic season.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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