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The Las Vegas Raiders‘ tight ends room is filled with young talent, as the team has spent an early pick on the position in two consecutive drafts.
Though the wide receivers get most of the attention in Las Vegas’ crowded pass-catching department, the tight ends will be pivotal to the success of Luke Getsy’s offense.
Like running back, two players have their spots secured in the tight ends room, as Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer could establish themselves as the best tight end duo in the NFL this season.
But the depth roles and the number of players Las Vegas will keep at the position are still unknown. Let’s run through our prediction for the Raiders tight ends that will make the 53-man roster out of training camp.
Raiders 53-man prediction at TE
TE1: Brock Bowers
Las Vegas selected the versatile playmaker out of Georgia with the No.13 pick in April’s draft, as general manager Tom Telesco decided to bolster the pass-catching corps instead of the offensive line.
Bowers had a stellar college career at Georgia, totaling 2,541 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in a three-year span. Though he will be used as a traditional tight end, the 21-year-old should also see some snaps in the slot and will likely be a dominant red-zone asset in his rookie campaign.
TE2: Michael Mayer
The former second-round pick didn’t have the strongest rookie season but still posted over 300 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just 37 targets.
The selection of Bowers raised questions about Mayer’s outlook in his sophomore campaign, but the 23-year-old had a terrific mandatory minicamp. Mayer should have a prominent role in the run game as a blocker and will become a security blanket for the quarterbacks.
TE3: Harrison Bryant
After a four-year stint in Cleveland, Bryant signed a one-year deal with the Raiders in March. The 26-year-old played well as a backup tight end to David Njoku, tallying three 200-yard seasons and starting 30 games.
The former Florida Atlantic standout is also incredibly reliable, missing just two games in his career thus far. Bryant should be a key contributor on special teams and provide adequate insurance in case of an injury to Bowers or Mayer.
TE4: Cole Fotheringham
Fotheringham signed a reserve/future contract with the Raiders in January and is heading into his third season with the team.
Due to his experience and Las Vegas utilizing the tight end position more this year, the former Utah standout should be able to earn a roster spot and contribute on special teams.
More 53-man predictions: QB | RB | WR