Rob Gronkowski was one of the best tight ends to ever play the game, and he thinks Raiders tight end Brock Bowers might be even better.
“I feel like he’s on track to be better than myself,” Gronkowski said on the Up and Adams Show on Tuesday.
“I don’t think he can dominate in the trenches the way I dominated in the trenches, but just overall as a pass-catching tight end, I think he can surpass me in many situations,” Gronkowski continued. “He already has 15 catches. The most by any rookie of all time in their first two games as a tight end… I’m a big fan. I can’t wait to continue watching him.”
It was a massive compliment from ‘Gronk’ and it ties in nicely to something Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter said prior to the start of the regular season.
Carpenter said he was texting with someone in the organization who believes rookie tight end Brock Bowers will play a significant role in making the Raider offense a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
”I think the sooner teams understand they are going to have to double team Bowers, the sooner this offense takes off,” the source told Hondo.
Bowers had 9 receptions for 98 yards against one of the better defenses in the league on Sunday, and if the double coverage doesn’t show up next week, it’s going to happen soon. Bowers can’t be left alone with a safety or linebacker in coverage, and with his size, there aren’t many cornerbacks that can match up with him, either.
It’s early, but how ridiculous do these draft takes about Bowers seem after two weeks of regular season football?
x: @raidersbeat