Brock Bowers’ record breaking season has him in the offensive rookie of the year conversation

On By Littum

No one is talking much about the Raiders, which means rookie tight end Brock Bowers has flown under the radar. (With the exception of fantasy owners who have him on their roster.)

Bowers doesn’t hype himself either, and his stoic demeanor prompted Davante Adams to call Bowers “The Businessman.”

However, Bowers’ numbers speak volumes for him.

His 70 catches are second in the NFL and his 706 yards are 10th. His three touchdowns are tied for fifth among all tight ends. That puts Bowers on pace to break the single-season rookie record for catches at any position, and he could set the rookie mark for receiving yards by a tight end.

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta holds the rookie record for catches at the position with 86 last season, and Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua set the overall rookie record for receptions with 105 last season. Bears tight end Mike Ditka set the rookie record for receiving yards at the position with 1,076 in 1961, and Nacua holds the record for most receiving yards by a rookie at any position at 1,486.

Nacua finished second to Texans quarterback CJ Stroud in offensive rookie of the year voting last season, and LaPorta was third.

Ditka is the only tight end to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“At the end of the season, you can relax and reflect a little bit,” Bowers said of appreciating his accomplishments, via Tashan Reed of TheAthletic.com, “but we’re not there yet.”

In betting odds, Bowers is fourth at +3000 behind Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels (-400), Denver quarterback Bo Nix (+300) and New England quarterback Drake Maye (+2500).

“He’s really good,” quarterback Gardner Minshew said. “I don’t know if anybody’s said that yet. There’s not much he can’t do, man. I’m super happy we have him and super excited for everything he’s going to be in his career .”

Bowers said the game is slowing down for him, and that’s how it looked Sunday, when he had 13 catches (the most ever in a game by a rookie tight end) for a career-high 126 yards and a touchdown.

“There’s always another week,” Bowers said. “I always have something to prove.”