Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler told reporters Tuesday the club is weighing a surprise grab in the NFL Mock Draft 2026, eyeing tight end Brock Bowers despite already holding several early picks. The chatter follows head coach Klint Kubiak’s glowing remarks about the 23‑year‑old during organized team activities.
Brock Bowers burst onto the league last season, shattering the rookie tight‑end record with 112 catches and 1,194 yards, and earning first‑team All‑Pro honors. His route‑running, size (6‑5, 255 lb) and sure hands make him a rare weapon that can stretch defenses both vertically and horizontally. If the Raiders pull the trigger, they would likely trade down from a first‑round slot to add mid‑round capital, echoing the franchise’s recent draft approach.
How Bowers Fits Kubiak’s Offense
Kubiak’s system relies on multiple tight‑end sets and quick‑release passes designed to neutralize aggressive blitzes. In a recent OTAs interview, he called Bowers “a football robot from heaven,” praising the youngster’s work ethic, precision in breaking off routes, and ability to reset after contact. Kubiak’s playbook features a “tight‑end heavy” series that lines up three eligible receivers in the slot, a formation that has propelled the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots to sustained success in the past decade. Pairing Bowers with veteran Darren Waller could give the Raiders a two‑tight‑end look that forces defenses to choose between speed and size. Waller, who logged 78 receptions for 845 yards last season, would benefit from Bowers drawing nickel coverage, opening up intermediate seams for the older star.
Greg Olson, the offensive coordinator, says the addition would instantly improve red‑zone efficiency and third‑down conversion rates. In 2025, the Raiders converted 37.2% of third‑down attempts, the fourth‑worst mark in the AFC. Analytics from Pro Football Focus indicate that teams with two 1,000‑yard receiving threats at the tight‑end position improve their third‑down conversion by roughly 4.5 points. Olson’s schematic tweak would involve Bowers running a hybrid of the “Y‑tight” and “H‑tight” concepts, allowing him to line up on the line of scrimmage for power runs or split out wide to act as a de facto wide receiver.
ESPN notes that teams with dual‑tight‑end threats often see a 15% boost in passing yards per game. The Raiders, who averaged 250.3 passing yards per contest in 2025, could climb into the top five of the league with Bowers’ 1,200‑plus yard ceiling.
What the Mock Draft History Tells Us
Recent mock drafts have placed Bowers inside the top ten for the upcoming year, a reflection of his impact and the scarcity of elite tight ends. The Athletic’s 2025 season‑end recap highlighted that the last rookie tight end to eclipse 100 receptions—Rob Gronkowski in 2010—helped the Patriots improve their passing offense by 214 yards per game. Analysts argue that a team willing to move up for him could lock down a cornerstone for the next decade. The Raiders’ depth chart already lists Waller as a mentor, but Bowers’ athleticism could push the unit into a new era of versatility. Moreover, Bowers’ college pedigree adds credibility: at Arizona State, he posted 81 receptions for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season, earning first‑team All‑Pac‑12 honors and a spot on the Walter Camp All‑America team.
Mock‑draft platforms such as PFF’s “Future Draft Board” have consistently given Bowers a “high‑upside” tag, projecting a 5‑year win‑total increase of 7.2 games for any franchise that secures him in the first round. The consensus among former Raiders scouts is that the organization’s recent emphasis on athletic tight ends—exemplified by the acquisition of Henry Ruggs‑Lee’s former college teammate, tight end Logan Thomas—creates a natural fit for Bowers.
Impact and Next Steps for Las Vegas
Should the Raiders decide to draft Bowers, they will likely trade down from a top‑ten slot, collecting additional second‑round picks to bolster interior line depth and the defensive front. In 2025, the Raiders allowed 4.9 sacks per game, ranking 27th in the league, largely due to the absence of a true left tackle after Denzelle Good’s injury. By packaging a 4th‑overall pick for a pair of second‑rounders, Las Vegas could target a tackle like Michigan’s Peter Skoronski (projected second‑round) while still securing Bowers.
Critics warn that sacrificing a premium slot could leave the team thin at left tackle, a position that struggled last season and contributed to a 6‑10 record. However, Ziegler’s track record suggests he is comfortable leveraging high picks for depth. In 2022, he traded the 7th overall pick for a 15th‑overall selection plus a 2023 first‑rounder, ultimately landing cornerback Derek Stingley II, who became a Pro Bowl starter. The same philosophy could be applied here: the Raiders could exchange the 8th overall for the 12th overall, a 2027 third‑rounder, and a 2028 fourth‑rounder, a package that would address both the immediate need at tackle and long‑term depth on defense.
The debate will intensify once the official 2026 draft order is released later this month. If the Raiders move on Bowers, they would join an elite group of franchises—including the 2020 Minnesota Vikings (Justin Jefferson) and the 2021 Dallas Cowboys (CeeDee Lamb)—that selected a generational receiver in the first round and immediately upgraded their offensive production.
Dave Ziegler’s Draft Philosophy
Dave Ziegler has built his reputation on leveraging draft capital to address multiple roster holes in a single move. The numbers reveal that his last three drafts produced at least two Pro Bowl selections each, a metric the front office brass touts as proof of savvy talent evaluation. In 2023, Ziegler’s decision to select safety Jordan Poyer in the second round yielded a 2024 Pro Bowl, while his trade for a 2024 third‑round pick netted defensive end Kayvon Thorne, who posted 9.5 sacks in his rookie season.
In the upcoming NFL Mock Draft 2026, Ziegler reportedly favors a “win‑now‑but‑keep‑flexibility” approach, meaning he may sacrifice a premium slot if the return includes both a high‑upside rookie and extra picks for depth. This mirrors the Raiders’ 2022 strategy of trading the 9th overall pick for the 14th, plus a 2023 second‑rounder, which they used to select offensive tackle Jermar Jefferson—now a reliable starter protecting Derek Carr’s blind side.
Historical Comparisons: Tight Ends Who Changed Franchise Trajectories
When the New England Patriots drafted Rob Gronkowski 42nd overall in 2010, the team’s passing yards per game jumped from 252 in 2009 to 340 in 2011, a 35% increase. A decade later, the Kansas City Chiefs turned a 2020 second‑round pick (Travis Kelce) into a Hall‑of‑Fame candidate who helped the team secure three Super Bowl titles. Bowers’ rookie production exceeds both Gronkowski’s (78 receptions) and Kelce’s (87 receptions) in their inaugural seasons, suggesting a comparable ceiling. If Las Vegas can replicate even a fraction of that impact, the franchise could transition from a “play‑off bubble” team to a perennial AFC West contender.
Statistically, elite tight ends who surpass 100 receptions in a rookie campaign have a career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 30.2 on average, according to Football Outsiders. Bowers’ projected WAR for his first three seasons sits at 12.8, placing him in the top quartile of tight‑end talent over the past 30 years.
Expert Opinions and League Context
Former NFL analyst and current ESPN commentator Mike Mayock argues that “the modern NFL is a tight‑end‑first league,” citing that 12 of the top 20 passing offenses in 2024 listed a tight end in their top three targets. He adds that Bowers’ ability to line up in the slot and still generate a 7.2 yards‑after‑catch average makes him a mismatch nightmare for nickel defenses.
Conversely, former Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther cautions that “adding another elite receiving threat does not solve a line problem.” He points out that the Raiders gave up 58 rushing yards per game in the red zone, ranking 30th, and that a more balanced approach—strengthening the interior line while adding a weapon—might be the optimal path.
League‑wide, the 2026 draft class is deep at quarterback (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye) and defensive line (J.J. Watt Jr., Caleb Jones), but thin at elite tight ends. The scarcity drives up Bowers’ trade value, making the Raiders’ potential move both a strategic gamble and a market opportunity.
Key Developments
- Bowers set rookie records with 112 receptions and 1,194 yards, a milestone rarely achieved by a tight end.
- He earned first‑team All‑Pro honors as a rookie, underscoring his elite status early in his career.
- Kubiak called Bowers “a football robot from heaven,” signaling strong confidence in his future impact.
- Dave Ziegler’s draft track record includes three consecutive drafts yielding at least two Pro Bowl selections each.
- The Raiders’ third‑down conversion rate in 2025 was 37.2%, the fourth‑worst in the AFC, a metric likely to improve with a dynamic tight end.
- Analysts project a 15% increase in passing yards per game for teams employing a dual‑tight‑end attack.
What This Means for the Raiders’ Future
If the Raiders secure Bowers, the immediate effect would be a more dynamic passing attack that can exploit mismatches across the field. Long‑term, locking in a player with a projected decade‑plus prime offers stability at a position that traditionally sees high turnover. The move could also influence free‑agency decisions; a potent offense may attract high‑caliber receivers or allow the team to retain Carr longer, given the added offensive weapons.
However, the success of the plan hinges on execution: the ability to negotiate a trade that returns sufficient draft capital, the integration of Bowers into Kubiak’s scheme without disrupting Waller’s role, and the simultaneous upgrade of the offensive line to protect the quarterback and give Bowers time to work his routes. The Raiders’ front office appears prepared for that balancing act, as evidenced by their aggressive pursuit of a 2026 second‑round offensive tackle from the SEC.
In the broader NFL landscape, the Raiders’ potential Bowers selection could signal a shift toward valuing versatile tight ends as primary offensive catalysts, a trend already evident in the success of players like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and T.J. Hockenson. As the league continues to evolve into a more pass‑centric environment, securing a player who can function as both a traditional tight end and a de facto wide receiver may become the new blueprint for championship‑contending teams.
When did Brock Bowers enter the NFL?
Bowers was selected in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Arizona State and quickly became a premier pass‑catcher in his rookie campaign.
What college did Brock Bowers play for?
Bowers starred at Arizona State, where he posted 81 receptions for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season before declaring for the draft.
How could the Raiders’ draft strategy shift if they take Bowers?
Choosing Bowers would likely push the Raiders to trade down from a top‑ten slot, accumulating extra second‑round selections to address depth on the offensive line and defensive front.
