Brock Bowers‘ history-making rookie season is attracting attention from all corners of the NFL world.
Despite the Raiders’ 4-12 record, Bowers’ presence alone gives the team a dynamic offensive weapon worth watching. On Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, Bowers broke the records for most yards by a rookie tight end and most receptions by a rookie, pushing his first year into legendary status.
Bowers has been able to accomplish these historic feats with injuries and inconsistency plaguing the quarterback position in Las Vegas, suggesting this is merely scratching the surface of his potential. With more around him, Bowers has the opportunity to enter rarified air at the NFL level.
His rookie season has already seen Bowers in the running for numerous accolades. He was just named to his first Pro Bowl Games, his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign continues to grow support and it is likely that he will earn All-Pro recognition as a rookie.
That high level of play has earned Bowers significant praise throughout the NFL, including one of the all-time greats at the tight end position in Rob Gronkowski.
“He’s the complete package,” Gronkowski said. “He’s the only thing that’s been steady on the Las Vegas Raiders offense throughout the whole year, and he’s done it with about three different quarterbacks throwing him the ball, which is just incredible. He should be Rookie Offensive Player of the Year. Don’t give it to a quarterback; he deserves it.”
Very few people are as qualified to discuss greatness as a tight end as Gronkowski is. During his 11-year career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gronkowski completed his career with 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns.
The accolades Gronkowski has received are equally as impressive, with four Super Bowl rings to go alongside five Pro Bowl appearances and four All-Pro nominations. He also holds the record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season, when he saw the end zone 18 times in 2011.
With Bowers already emerging as one of the game’s elite tight ends, there is reason to believe he will hold some all-time records at the position by the time his career is done.
He already has quite the fan in Gronkowski, and he will only continue to attract more attention at this pace.
History not favoring Brock Bowers in Rookie of the Year discussion
