The Las Vegas Raiders have endured a brutal 2024 season in which they lost double-digit games and only a handful of wins. Despite this lost season and many question marks surrounding the franchise, there is one thing the organization did right: utilized rookie tight end Brock Bowers effectively.

When general manager Tom Telesco selected University of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, many analysts deemed it to be a perfect fit only if the coaching would place Bowers in a good position. While the offensive production started out on a rocky foot, so rocky that head coach Antonio Pierce relieved offensive coordinator Luke Getsy following the team’s 2-7 start, Bowers proved to be the difference maker and a productive athlete on the field short after.

Prior to the start of the season, I wrote an article titled: “Raiders Must Unleash Brock Bowers’ Versatility in Rookie Season” where I covered different ways to implement the 6-foot-3 245 pound athlete on offense. While the article was accurate, it remarkably was one of the only things that the organization did right this past season.

When interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner took over with the help of his father, senior advisor and long-time NFL head coach Norv Turner, the message was simple – get the ball to the playmakers and let them make plays. While this may seem like the goal of every single coordinator, it sometimes gets overlooked. Turner’s ability to implement some of the staples that the Patriots did with Rob Gronkowski certainly will help the franchise moving forward, and has put a bandage on an offense that was very poorly ran prior to Turner’s promotion.

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden commented on Bowers on social media and how he can do it all at such a high level.

Bowers is amazing. incredible production from the slot, isolated at wr, from the backfield and as a conventional TE.

He just set the rookie reception record with 3 different starting qbs and a change at OC!
pic.twitter.com/hzJzKeSdXW

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) January 5, 2025

Bowers broke a 63-year-old record against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago. He caught seven receptions for 77 yards, which made him eclipse 108 receptions and over 1,140 yards on the season. This record surpassed Mike Ditka’s 1961 rookie tight end mark (1,067 yards) along with Puka Nacua’s 2023 105 catches by a rookie at any position.

After the Raiders’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Bowers finished the season with 112 receptions (most by a rookie in NFL history) for 1,194 yards (most by a rookie tight end in NFL history) and 5 touchdowns. He has etched his way into the history book not only for the Raiders but in the NFL as well. He certainly will continue to provide for this team and seems to be the only bright spot currently on the roster.

Although the future for the Raiders as a whole looks very questionable, there is definitely one thing the organization got right in 2024 and that was utilizing their franchise tight end properly for hopefully many years to come.