A knee injury sustained in Week 1 bothered Bowers throughout the 2025 season, preventing him from building on his historic 2024 rookie campaign. He suited up for 12 games and mustered a respectable 64-680-7 line on 86 targets, but Bowers' averages dipped by 1.3 catches and 13.5 receiving yards per game compared to 2024, when he had the most receiving yards (1,194) by a rookie TE and the most receptions (112) by an NFL rookie at any position. The 2024 first-round pick's impressive start has come despite subpar QB play, and the Raiders' ceiling under center is now substantially higher with the additions of 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza and veteran Kirk Cousins. By TE standards, Bowers has already demonstrated an elite floor when healthy, able to put up solid numbers while catching passes from the likes of Gardner Minshew, Aidan O'Connell, Desmond Ridder and Geno Smith. Trey McBride will be the first tight end off the board in the majority of fantasy drafts, but Bowers hasn't been too far behind in per-game fantasy production since entering the league. The Raiders' offseason improvements to their QB room and offensive line could be the spark that allows Bowers to overtake McBride for the overall TE1 distinction.