Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL's top 10 tight ends for 2025 (Guess who's #1)

[heavyD]

To think that some criticized the Raiders for the pick. Only 22 years old so if the Raiders play their cards right they will have a HOF calibre TE on their hands for a good decade.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/455 ... -best-game

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Age: 22 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie)

Bowers makes history in our Top 10 poll -- he's the first player to rank No. 1 at his position after his rookie year. From Joe Burrow to Justin Jefferson and Sauce Gardner, many came close but couldn't quite pull off the feat.

Bowers, however, narrowly outdistanced Kittle in the polls after earning more than 50% of the first-place votes.

He was the highest-graded overall player in the 2024 draft in the eyes of some NFL scouts, but the position he plays, coupled with a strong quarterback draft, dropped him to the No. 13 pick.

Sure, the Raiders needed a quarterback in the worst way, but there's no way they regret the selection of Bowers, who met expectations, then smashed them.

Among his Year 1 records: most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history (1,194), most receptions by a rookie at any position (112) and most receptions by any player in a single season in Raiders history.

"Great person, hard worker, instinctive, great hands, matchup problem due to his speed and athleticism with elite [run after catch] ability," an NFC executive said.

Added an NFL coordinator: "He sort of just floats around out there. Game comes naturally to him."

[Corleone]

[Attyla]

softball is more fun after a few beers