Despite only being a one-year vet in the National Football League, it’s more than fair to ask if Brock Bowers is already the best tight end at the professional level. That’s the question coaches, scouts and executives league-wide asked themselves this week as they plugged the Las Vegas Raiders superstar pass-catcher into their positional rankings.
And finally, the results are in.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers makes NFL history.. Again
What percentage of players heading into their second season ranking first among their position-mates across the NFL?
Zero percent.
At least, that was the case prior to this year. Never before have coaches, scouts and executives league-wide come together to vote a player fresh off of their rookie campaign the best the NFL has to offer at their position.
That’s because coaches, scouts and executives have never seen a Brock Bowers.
Mike Ditka once set the record for receiving yardage by a rookie tight end with a mark of 1,076. That was in 1961. Since, no tight end has come within 49 yards of that number through their rookie campaign–until Bowers completely shattered that record with a total of 1,194.
Then there’s his 112 receptions, which not only stands as a rookie record at Bowers’ position, but a record among rookies in general throughout NFL history.
In fact, there’s only been two tight ends who’ve finished with a greater reception total throughout a season, regardless of the year in their career. That’s Evan Engram with 114, and Zach Ertz at 116.
League personnel kept these feats in mind while ranking their tight ends across the NFL with more than 50% of voters writing Bowers’ name in the number one spot.
“Great person, hard worker, instinctive, great hands, matchup problem due to his speed and athleticism with elite [run after catch] ability,” one NFL executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
At just 22 years of age, Brock Bowers is viewed as the best at his position across the NFL. At least, that’s how NFL personnel view the Las Vegas Raiders superstar tight end.
