Klint Kubiak’s history with tight ends bodes well for Brock Bowers

Dec 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) looks on before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images “Brock Bowers is WR1”. That’s the popular retort when the topic of the Las Vegas Raiders lacking a true top wide receiver when Klint Kubiaks offense is discussed.

Bowers does provide the Silver & Black an elite, position-versatile playmaker at tight end. And it’s that hybrid nature of what the 23-year-old brings to the table that makes relegating the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to purely an in-line tight end a gross mismanagement of a valuable resource. The 6-foot-4 and 235-pound Georgia product is a chess piece that can be moved all around the alignment or formation to create mismatches and put Bowers in the best possible position to succeed.

That position versatility is a key trait for a traditional WR1. Yet, relying solely on a tight end to be WR1 — no matter how elite Bowers has already shown to be in his first two season in the NFL — is risky. An argument that a true perimeter wide receiver is required to prevent defenses from simply double- or triple-teaming Bowers in coverage.

Both of those things can be true. By The Numbers Brock Bowers, Tight End 2025: 12 games (8 starts), 86 targets, 64 receptions, 680 yards, 7 touchdowns; 2 carries, 2 yards Career: (2024-25), 29 games (24 starts), 239 targets, 176 receptions, 1,874 yards, 12 touchdowns; 7 carries, 15 yards Fortunately for the folk who pine that Bowers’ presence means a WR1 is a moot point, the Raiders have a play caller in Kubiak who has the experience and knowledge of making the talented tight end one of the best receivers in the game. Klint Kubiak LOVES 12 personnel Seattle used it on 29.