The Las Vegas Raiders went the entire 2025 season without a single player getting All-Pro honors. Can you believe it? That’s the first time that’s happened in nearly five years for that squad. Talk about a wake-up call! But don’t sleep on them just yet, because the Raiders are definitely looking to push for some serious individual hardware this season, and two names are leading that charge.
Bowers Is Built Different, But The Competition Is Insane
Look, when you’re talking about players who can step up, tight end Brock Bowers has got to be at the top of the list. This dude was named a first-team All-Pro by the AP, NFLPA, PFF, and PFW in his rookie year! He absolutely went off in his first season, snagging 112 receptions for 1194 yards and 5 touchdowns. Wild, right?
Even in 2025, when a knee injury limited him to just 12 games (and he was truly healthy for only 9-10 of those), he still managed 64 receptions, 680 yards, and seven touchdowns. And get this: despite the injury, he finished 10th in the AP All-Pro voting. Personnel staffs around the league, according to ESPN, already rank him as the third-best tight end in the NFL! With him moving all over their offense, his production should be through the roof.
But let’s be real, the tight end position is absolutely stacked. He’s up against guys like Trey McBride, who’s had back-to-back 1200+ yard seasons. Travis Kelce is still a top-tier name. Kyle Pitts is set to get a massive workload playing big slot, and George Kittle isn’t just one of the best blocking TEs, he’s considered a top-three player at the position. And don’t forget guys like Tyler Warren, Sam LaPorta, and Tucker Kraft who could all have big seasons too. It’s a bloodbath out there, but Bowers is absolutely built for it.
Maxx Crosby’s Uphill Battle For Edge Dominance
Then there’s Maxx Crosby, who finished 8th in AP All-Pro voting last season. The tough part for Crosby? Voters usually view him as a defensive end, not an outside linebacker, and that just means even tougher competition. In 2025, first-team EDGE rushers were a who’s who of destruction: Will Anderson, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Burns, Tuli Tuipultou, and Byron Young. That’s a brutal group!
With Parsons expected to miss most of the season, it opens things up a tiny bit, but Anderson, Garrett, and Hutchinson are still practically shoe-ins. Tuipulotu and Young also have good chances. Crosby’s got to absolutely dominate to stand out from that crowd, and he’s got all the talent to do it.
Here’s the kicker for both these guys: All-Pro honors are super tied to team success. If the Raiders can’t claw their way to at least 6-8 wins this season, it’s going to make it an even tougher climb for Bowers and Crosby to get that well-deserved recognition. They’ve got the individual talent, no doubt, but the team’s record will speak volumes. This season’s gonna be a grind, and everyone’s watching to see if these guys can make their mark.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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