Klint Kubiak’s multiple tight end sets means Raiders’ depth is critical

· Yahoo Sports

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 7: Ian Thomas #80 of the Las Vegas Raiders smiles on the field prior to the NFL game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 7, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer will grab the headlines — and for good reason.

That Las Vegas Raiders tight end duo is slated to be used quite often in head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense as the play caller’s penchant to use multiple sets is well-documented.

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But it goes beyond two-tight end alignments.

Kubiak isn’t shy to deploy three-tight end sets in a way that defies the traditionalist method of being a predictable running formation. Bucking the trend is a calling card for the Silver & Black’s new head honcho and while we’ll see aplenty good 12 Personnel (one running back and two tight ends) as it’s a staple of his arsenal, it’ll get really interesting if/when Kubiak trots out 13 and 23 Personnel (three tight ends) packages.

Which means, the Raiders’ depth at the position group is critical. Bowers and Mayer are undoubtedly integral to Kubiak’s operation but as we’re all too aware: Injuries can happen at any time. As such, the reserve roles behind Las Vegas young top tow tight ends is equally as vital.

By The Numbers
Raiders Tight Ends

  • Brock Bowers: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, 23 years old, 3rd Year
  • Michael Mayer: 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, 25, 4th Year
  • Ian Thomas: 6-foot-3, 253 pounds, 30, 9th Year
  • Carter Runyon: 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, 24, 2nd Year
  • Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.: 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, 28, 6th Year
  • Patrick Gurd: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, 24, Undrafted Rookie

Of the six tight ends on the Raiders 90-man roster as they head into training camp later this month (July 23 for rookies, July 28 for veterans), Thomas notched the most snaps on the team in 2025. The 30-year-old blocking tight end — who is a sneaky pass catcher — logged 318 snaps on 15 games played (10 of which were as a starter) and caught 13 passes for 114 yards.

Thought to walk in free agency, Raiders general manager re-signed the veteran to a modest one-year, $1.6 million deal a month after free agency began in March. But Thomas’ sustained blocking experience and ability to catch the rock, too, adds a familiar and reliable depth piece to Kubiak’s offense.

Carter Runyon is next in terms of an incumbent who earned snaps in 2025. An undrafted free agent out of Towson, the 24-year-old notched 45 snaps on offense and was a special teamer with 206 snaps. Finishing his rookie season with just one catch for three yards in 13 games played (zero starts), Runyon was relegated to supreme depth piece behind Thomas. Like his veteran counterpart, Runyon offers sneaky receiver skills as a leak and/or play action option as the youngster is more of a receiving tight end. He’s both a vertical and horizontal threat who brings deceptive speed for his size.

Then, there’s Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., a fleet-footed veteran who logged 31 snaps on offense in the lone game he played in 2025: A 40-6 lambasting the Raiders suffered at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, on October 5. Clocking in a 4.49 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine prepping for the 2020 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos’ fourth-round pick (118th overall) has speed that rivals Bowers’. Okwuegbunam is a seam-stretcher tight end that can stress a defense but hasn’t consistently put it together.

Lastly, there’s 2026 undrafted free agent Patrick Gurd, a well-built blocking tight end who can line up either inline or even in the backfield as a lead-blocking fullback. The 24-year-old could make a run for both reserve tight end or fullback spots but faces a steep uphill climb. Gurd profiles more as a fringe talent that would need to showcase more special teams prowess than Runyon.

That rounds out the tight end group, but there’s a darkhorse that can eat up tight end snaps when their role as the fullback isn’t on the field: Connor Heyward.

While the veteran was signed to fill the tradition fullback role and was even given a number normally reserved for backfield folk (No. 34), Heyward is primed for a return to his pass-catching roots, something he did more frequently with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a rookie in 2022 (12 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown) and 2023 (23 catches for 167 yards) compared to the last two seasons combined (nine receptions for 61 yards, two touchdowns).

Getting back into the pass-catching mix will help both Kubiak and Heyward.

Comfortable as a move tight end and H-back, Heyward showed he can run past linebackers and defensive backs with soft hands to become a trusted target. This allows Kubiak to get creative and confuse opposing defenses by either lining up Heyward in the backfield in front of the running back or at tight end and motioning the fullback back and forth. He can run routes from the backfield or as an in-line tight end or in the slot.

Unless the Raiders move Mayer or Runyon/Gurd make heads turn in training camp, I expect Thomas to be the third tight end on the depth chart. Honestly, it’s likely safe to pencil in Heyward’s name as TE3 instead, considering the fullback has the versatility to function at both position groups and he’s a rabid special teamer — something Thomas did for only 96 snaps in 2025 (Heyward had 290 in comparison).

In fact, when comparing total career special teams snaps, Heyward nearly has double at 1,124 to Thomas’ 592 in four less season in the NFL.

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