​The Las Vegas Raiders head into the 2026 season with one of the league’s premier tight ends in Brock Bowers, a player many believe possesses the rare potential to reclaim the title of the NFL’s best at his position. NFL analyst Eric Karabell recently projected a bounce-back year for Bowers, pointing to the substantial upgrades Las Vegas has added this offseason. After a sophomore campaign that did not meet his lofty rookie-year standards, Bowers will enter 2026 equipped with a sharper supporting cast: a better quarterback situation, an improved offensive line, and more playmakers around him.
Bowers’ 2025 performance would have been solid by most tight end standards, but the expectations surrounding him are different. He flashed generational talent as a rookie, and many observers regard him as one of the most gifted players at his position in league history. The follow-up season, however, was hampered by an injury that lingered from Week 1 and clearly limited what he could contribute on the field. On top of that, the Raiders’ offense around him struggled, with inconsistent quarterback play, a faltering line, and a receiving corps that failed to draw enough defensive attention to free Bowers up to make a bigger impact.
This offseason, Las Vegas set out to fix those exact issues. They invested in a quarterback upgrade by drafting Fernando Mendoza with a top pick, hoping to provide a more reliable and dynamic signal-caller situation. Even if veteran Kirk Cousins is involved at any point, Mendoza and Cousins represent a meaningful step forward from Geno Smith’s production last season. Karabell noted that the Raiders “greatly upgraded their QB situation with the top draft pick Fernando Mendoza,” and added that, as long as Bowers stays healthy, he should return to numbers among the best in the league at his position.
The changes extend well beyond the quarterback room. The offensive line received attention, and the receiving corps gained speed with the addition of Jalen Nailor. Michael Mayer is expected to be healthy again, offering another reliable pass-catching option. The Raiders also fortified the backfield by selecting Mike Washington Jr. as the backup running back, providing needed depth to the ground game. A stronger rushing attack would force defenses to respect the run, which in turn opens up the middle of the field where Bowers excels.
Yet questions remain about the receiving corps. There is talent, but also uncertainty, and Bowers is nearly certain to be the primary target in this offense. That will mean defenses will continue to key on him, though the surrounding talent should prevent the kind of bracket coverage that limited him last season. The biggest variable, as always, is health. Bowers dealt with injuries throughout 2025 and pushed through them out of a fierce competitive drive. When he is physically at full strength, the tape and the numbers from his prolific rookie year offer a clear blueprint for what he can achieve.
If Bowers can stay healthy, the path is clear for a season that could reaffirm his status as one of the NFL’s elite tight ends and potentially the best at his position. With a better QB situation, a more capable offensive line, and a receiving corps that can take some of the pressure off him, Bowers is positioned to deliver a standout 2026 campaign and restore the kind of dominance that defined his rookie year.