It turns out not all of the Las Vegas Raiders’ tight end news this week is bad
The Las Vegas Raiders got some bad news with TE Brock Bowers this week — but the latest tight end development is great news for another name in the room.
The Las Vegas Raiders had some bad news hit their tight end room on Wednesday. It was announced then that star Brock Bowers was not going to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Bowers, who missed time last season, is a key cog in the Klint Kubiak offense. And with his dynamic skill set, he was sure to have a ton of targets headed his way in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. But the football gods had other plans, which shifts the opportunity to Michael Mayer in the tight end room. And Mayer’s big week just got even bigger — he’s signing a three-year contract extension.
Las Vegas Raiders agree to terms on a three-year, $45M contract extension with TE Michael Mayer
After plenty of trade rumors and speculation over the past year or so, Mayer is getting locked into place. It’s a deal that makes him one of the most handsomely compensated tight ends in the league. It’s an impressive mark for Mayer considering his first three seasons. But it’s also worth waiting to see the full details. Given Mayer’s production? You can’t help wonder what the fine print of his contract details as fully guaranteed and base value.
Kubiak having a vision for Mayer shouldn’t be a surprise, as the Seattle offense in 2025 under Kubiak made use of multiple tight ends frequently. It’s a trend across the league right now — and the Raiders may have fallen into an impactful duo thanks to the efforts of the prior regime. This certainly counts as a major vote of confidence in Mayer having a major breakout season in 2026.
He’ll have every opportunity to post big numbers in Week 1 without Bowers in the lineup. With a big game, he’ll immediately reward the Raiders’ belief and new investment. That would be even more good news for a position room whose week got off to a rancid start.
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