The Raiders have one of the most talented tight end groups in the NFL and most of that has to do with the presence of Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
But according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, there is another lock to make the final roster in the tight end room.
“Ian Thomas is being overlooked just because of who’s ahead of him. [He] has had a great camp,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“He’s making this team,” Hondo continued. “I said the Raiders would probably carry three tight ends, and I predicted Ian before the season, before training camp. Now I’m hearing they may keep four.”
“Carter Runyon [and] Qadir Ismail [are] both playing well. I think Qadir is a leader in that battle, but still it’s close. They may keep four. I know that is very hard to believe. I’m not saying they’re going to, but they might… there is discussion internally about it.”
Thomas turned 29 in June and spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He was a 4th-round pick in 2018 and has 119 career receptions.
Four tight ends on the final roster be a surprise and it’s a lot easier to project now than it will be when there are more important position groups with difficult decisions to be made.
If Thomas makes the final roster, Ismail and Runyon will have a steep uphill battle to made the team.
But never say never.
A week ago, who would have guessed the Raiders would release their $110 million defensive tackle for allegedly getting too frisky with a teammate?
x: @raidersbeat