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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Fantasy football TE rankings 2025: Bank on Brock Bowers, Trey McBride
Fantasy football draft season is upon us. While the focus is on running backs and wide receivers, selecting the best tight end in your league can be the ultimate difference maker in becoming a league winner. Tight end is often considered a fantasy wasteland but several players can help put their stamp on a successful fantasy lineup. Entering last season, a clear-cut TE1 didn't exist but Raiders star Brock Bowers burst onto the scene and is firmly planted at the top of the rankings heading into 2025. As always, the Kansas CityChiefs' Travis Kelce returns, and tight ends like Detroit's Sam LaPorta and Arizona's Trey McBride have emerged as high-end options. There are only a few highly coveted tight ends but there are some gems you can select deeper down the draft board with league-winning potential. Who are the best fantasy football tight ends in 2025? Here's a look at USA TODAY's preseason fantasy TE rankings. 2025 POSITION RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST Fantasy football rankings: TE 1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders. Bowers delivered on high expectations in 2024. He set multiple rookie receiving records and is expected once again to be the top target in the Raiders offense. With improved quarterback play expected from Geno Smith under center, Bowers has little risk and a high floor. 2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals tight end was arguably the best hurdler in the NFL in 2024 and he may have just enough juice to hurdle his way to finishing as TE1 in 2025. He led all tight ends with a league-high 25.9% target rate and had the second-most red-zone targets in the NFL. McBride's 111 receptions last season were the fourth most by a tight end in a single season all-time. He finished with just two touchdowns despite the massive target share, which suggests he should see positive regression in the touchdown column in 2025. 3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers. With the 49ers battered by injuries last season, Kittle became a focal point and reminded everyone just how valuable he is. Heading into 2025, expect more of the same, with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) slowly making his return and Deebo Samuel traded to Washington. Over the last two seasons with Brock Purdy, Kittle posted an average depth of target (aDOT) of 9.9 and 8.9 -- significantly higher marks than Bowers (6.6 aDOT) and McBride (6.5 aDOT). Kittle has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and is one of the best red-zone threats, scoring 25 touchdowns over the last three seasons. 4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions. LaPorta didn't replicate his success from his rookie season when he finished as TE1, but he still has that same upside heading into his third NFL season. He finished as TE7 in point-per-reception (PPR) formats but dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season. Ben Johnson is no longer in Detroit calling plays, but there should be no shortage of offense to go around with the Lions, who scored an NFL-high 33.2 points per game last season. 5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs. Kelce's production declined significantly in 2024, despite his target share (25%) holding firm. His yards per route run and yards after the catch both declined for the third consecutive season, but expectations remain high in the Chiefs offense. Rashee Rice could miss multiple games, which would open the door for the vet to become the focal point in the passing attack during that period. He finished as TE5 in 2024 and there's no reason to believe he can't repeat. He's no longer the elite fantasy player he was, but he remains inside the top 10 at the position and has a safe floor. 6. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns. Njoku is in an offense with the biggest question mark at quarterback this preseason. It's nothing new for the Browns tight end, who has been able to find success despite the lack of consistency under center. Veteran Joe Flacco is the likely leader to start Week 1 and Njoku averaged 16.2 fantasy points per game with a 28% target share in six games with Flacco in 2023. Cleveland lacks viable receivers outside of Jerry Jeudy, which will allow Njoku to gobble up more looks. 7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings. The former first-round pick will be over a year removed from an ACL injury. He's been extremely efficient since joining Kevin O'Connell's offense in Minnesota and will be catching passes from J.J. McCarthy in 2025. He finished 2023 second at the position in targets and receptions. Fully healthy entering 2025, he is a solid mid-range TE1. 8. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons. Here's the first of two post-hype sleepers ranked inside the top 12. Pitts has been one of the most frustrating fantasy players to roster but with Michael Penix Jr. taking the reins in 2025, there is new hope. Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson enters his second season and should have a better idea of how to maximize Pitts' potential. 9. Evan Engram, Denver Broncos. Engram finds himself in an exciting offense in Denver, where he has plenty of potential in Sean Payton's "joker" role. There's not much target competition aside from Courtland Sutton and he could easily see over 100 targets. 10. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens. Andrews is aging but has been a fantasy stalwart for seven seasons. He's been a consensus top-5 tight end for the last six seasons but saw his yards per route run drop for the third consecutive year. He averaged just 3.7 yards after the catch (YAC), which tied for 41st among tight ends. He has an incredible rapport with Lamar Jackson, but the emergence of Isaiah Likely could put a dent in his target share. 11. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills. Kincaid is an excellent post-hype sleeper. Big things were expected from the 2023 first-round pick last season, but he dealt with injuries. The good? His target rate increased from 19.6% to 25.7%, which is around the average of a TE1. The tight end position has typically taken longer for players to break out, with LaPorta and Bowers being the outliers. In Year 3 of a Josh Allen-led offense, there's an opportunity for Kincaid to boom. He was second on the team in targets more than 15 yards downfield 12. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys. Ferguson finds himself as the third option in the Cowboys passing attack entering 2025 after the addition of George Pickens. This will likely keep him firmly outside a top-five finish at the position, but he should have a safe floor week-to-week with Dak Prescott healthy. He ranked as TE12 in Prescott's eight healthy games in 2024. 13. Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans. The Titans offense has some intrigue with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward expected to be under center in Week 1. Okonkwo has been inconsistent but it's easy to point the blame at poor quarterback play. Tennessee lacks a clear second receiver behind Calvin Ridley, and Okonkwo had a massive 27% target share down the stretch last season when given a full-time role. A young quarterback's best friend is often a tight end. He is a sneaky option who can be selected late in drafts. 14. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts. Of the rookie tight ends, Warren has the least target competition after landing with the Colts. Warren should excel in Shane Steichen's RPO-heavy offense, where he can do damage after the catch. Among rookie tight ends, he is the most likely to have a top-10 finish at the position. 15. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers. Kraft took a significant leap in his second season, finishing with over 700 yards and seven touchdowns. Green Bay has plenty of weapons and added another in the first round of the draft in WR Matthew Golden. Kraft earned just 15% of the team's targets last season and relied heavily on his abilities after the catch. That will likely keep him outside of the top 10. 16. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens. Likely is just 25 years old and averaged 6.1 yards after the catch (tied for sixth among TEs) compared to Mark Andrews' 3.7. Todd Monken's offense continued to feature Andrews as the season progressed. Still, Likely posted career highs across the board. Andrews, who will be 30 this season, saw his yards per route run drop for the third consecutive season. Lamar Jackson posted a 131.2 passer rating when targeting Likely in 2024. There is legitimate TE1 upside if Andrews is injured or traded. 17. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars offense should have a new identity in 2025 with Liam Coen in town. Trevor Lawrence previously supported Engram as an elite fantasy tight end, which gives hope that there's breakout potential for Strange. However, there are other weapons in the Jaguars offense (Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter) he will have to compete with for targets. 18. Mason Taylor, New York Jets. Taylor, a second-round draft pick, could easily find himself as the No. 2 weapon in the Jets air attack behind Garrett Wilson. The Jets offense, led by Justin Fields, will likely take a run-heavy approach. Still, new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was the passing game coordinator in Detroit while Sam LaPorta emerged, making Taylor an intriguing late-round option. 19. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals' contract talks this offseason have been loud, but among the quietest deals to go down was the three-year, $25 million extension for Gesicki. Joe Burrow can support multiple receivers at a time and if the oft-injured Tee Higgins were to miss time during the year, the Penn State product would be firmly inside the top 10 at the position. 20. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles. Goedert has an upside that can't be matched, but is contingent on the health of DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. He's often the fourth option in Philadelphia's offense but he still manages to average about 50 yards per year. He missed seven games last season with injuries and was the topic of trade rumors earlier in the offseason. He is a steady TE2 option. 21. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears. With Ben Johnson leading Chicago, the Bears offense is expected to take a significant leap. However, the presence of Cole Kmet, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden will likely keep Loveland in the back end of TE2 range. 22. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers had the fourth-fewest pass attempts per game in 2024. More of the same can be expected with Arthur Smith still calling plays. The veteran tight end recorded a career-high 653 yards, 65 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2024. Freiermuth finished 2024 as TE9 in PPR but the addition of Jonnu Smith only increased his target competition. 23. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders. Ertz will turn 35 in November and is among the group of veterans ranked as a viable TE2. He was a significant piece of the upstart Commanders last season and finished as TE7 in PPR formats. Jayden Daniels looked for Ertz often but there's added target competition in 2025 with Deebo Samuel in the mix and 2024 second-rounder Ben Sinnott expected to earn a larger role. 24. Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers. Like his new teammate Freiermuth, Smith finds himself splitting looks in the Steelers' run-first offense. It will be difficult for the pair of vets to replicate their success from 2024 despite teaming up with Aaron Rodgers. 25. Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins 26. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots 27. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints 28. Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers 29. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans 30. Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks 31. Theo Johnson, New York Giants 32. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33. Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams 34. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers 35. Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. 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Sunday World
6 days ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Private car parking firms are hitting drivers with illegal fines
June Bowers endured a near five-month battle over a fine imposed after an alleged infraction. Private car parking firms are intimidating unwitting car owners to part with illegal fines, it has been claimed. GB-based firms are operating contracts in Northern Ireland to redeem fines for traffic offences at places such as the George Best Belfast City Airport and other public amenities. Aggressive tactics include threats of legal action, court appearances and rising fines if the original demand is not met. It has now emerged in most cases they are not entitled to demand penalty payments which can escalate to hundreds of pounds. The firms, appointed by the likes of the City Airport, are applying laws that are enforceable only in England and Wales and do not apply to Northern Ireland. The disparity emerged after car owner June Bowers from Monkstown emerged victorious in a near five-month battle over a £100 fine imposed after an alleged infraction at the City Airport. ticket She was hit with a £100 fine and, having had two appeals rejected by Sheffield-based Vehicle Control Services, was then threatened with an additional £70 levy and possible legal action. Mrs Bowers, who is 81 and in poor health, was not behind the wheel on the evening of February 8 this year. The driver was at the airport to collect people travelling to Belfast to attend a funeral. Mrs Bowers' husband, veteran trade unionist Joe Bowers, said it was an 'outrage'' that his wife has been subjected to such intimidating behaviour. He said they were determined to resist increasingly aggressive demands. 'I think it's outrageous how these companies intimidate people into paying these fines, we have discovered that, certainly in our case there was no legal requirement to pay.' He said the Sheffield-based company sent them repeated demands for £170, threatening court action. It became clear in repeated correspondence that Vehicle Control Services were basing their demands on laws that don't apply here. The Bowers made repeated appeals, all of which were rejected with increasingly aggressive and threatening behaviour from the company. It a further twist the 'debt'' was sold to a debt recovering agency called Debt Recovery Plus. June Bowers pictured in her home. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press News in 90 Seconds - July 26th 'They have created an industry of their own,' said Joe, 'they are generating huge amounts of money – the debt recovery agency is on record as making millions. 'My issue is that people are being intimidated into paying fines that they should not be getting. We could have let this go for a quiet life, but it got under my skin that people are being put under this type of pressure.' Earlier this month the private company relented but 'warned' Mrs Bowers that any future transgression would result in firm action. The ticket was as a result of the driver of Mrs Bowers' car finding themselves in the wrong car park at the City. 'The driver found themselves in the wrong car park when they should have been in the short stay, so had to pay to get out, then repeated the mistake and had to pay again, that was their mistake we have no issue with that,' said Joe. 'But the new layout at Belfast City is confusing and there are lots of signs, which you can't read unless you slow down. 'I just think it's outrageous that this company can behave like this. 'These private companies seem to be completely unaccountable they are very aggressive in their approach, it's a form of intimidation.' The law in England and Wales requires those issued with a ticket to reveal the identity of the driver, that is not a requirement in Northern Ireland and unless the ticket company know the identity of the driver, a fixed penalty is not viable. But VCS were not interested in any mitigating circumstances and insisted they would try and enforce the fine. Joe Bowers said he suspects people finding themselves in a similar situation have been bullied into paying. He said: 'How can you understand what you're supposed to do if you don't pause to read the rules?' This week Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan called for greater regulation around the issue of private firms issuing fines. The SDLP MLA claimed that, after dealing with 'countless cases' of people contacted by private parking firms, the 'supposed violations' are 'often based on faulty camera evidence or registration systems'. He was speaking after writing to the Infrastructure Minister to ask if new legislation could be introduced to regulate private parking firms in Northern Ireland. The minister, Liz Kimmins, said in a written response that there was currently 'no legislation which specifically applies to privately owned car parks' and 'no plans' from her department to introduce any. Ms Kimmins said: 'Whilst my department is responsible for on-street parking enforcement across the North, it has no responsibility for the operation and management of private car parks nor the enforcement companies that operate within them. 'There is no legislation which specifically applies to privately-owned car parks and my department currently has no plans to introduce legislation in this area.' She added: 'However, any organisation that operates parking on private land and requests keeper details from the DVLA must be approved by an Accredited Trade Association such as the Approved Operator Scheme managed by the British Parking Association. 'Members of this scheme must adhere to the BPA AOS Code of Practice for the control and enforcement of parking on private land and unregulated public car parks.' Belfast City Airport has been contacted.
Fox Sports
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Geno Smith aims to bring stability and firepower to Raiders' struggling offense
Associated Press HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Raiders have been searching at quarterback since a messy divorce late in the 2022 season ended Derek Carr's nine-year reign. And even Carr's tenure came up short of expectations with the team making the playoffs just twice. Now the Raiders are counting on veteran Geno Smith to provide much-needed stability and add punch to an offense among the NFL's worst last season. But, he isn't expected to do it by himself in Las Vegas. He has two potentially dynamic offensive weapons in tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, as well as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who comes off his first 1,000-yard season. All three are 28 and younger, and Smith is closing in on 35 as he enters his 12th season. 'In this league, every day you got to prove yourself, not only to your guys but to the rest of the league,' Smith said. "So for me, when you're coming to a new team, you got to set the standard, set the example, and it's through hard work. I wanted to make sure that my guys know that I was going to be here 100% of the time, going to put all the work in, going to maximize our resources and just really put our best foot forward. "I'm not a big talker. I just want guys to kind of follow me through example, and I just try to push myself, push the guys and let the rest handle itself.' It may be a new city and a new group of teammates for Smith, but there is a sense of familiarity as he goes back to work for coach Pete Carroll. His career was in limbo when Carroll signed him in 2019 to join Seattle. He became the starter in 2022 and led the NFL that season by completing 69.8% of his passes while throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year, and the Seahawks had winning records in all three seasons with Smith at the controls. Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season, but he failed to reach an agreement to stay in Seattle. The Raiders acquired him in a March 7 trade in which they sent back a third-round draft pick. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback then signed a two-year, $75 million extension that takes him through the 2027 season. Smith said at his introductory news conference that he had 'unfinished business,' given the way his time ended in Seattle. 'He's such an all-in guy that there's no question what his commitment is and his conviction, and so that just helps the message (get) embedded even more so,' Carroll said. 'It's why he's so valuable to us.' Smith is a major reason why the Raiders have genuine hope they can improve an offense that last season ranked 29th in scoring and 27th in yardage. Having Bowers and Jeanty in the lineup are two other notable reasons for such optimism. Bowers was second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season to Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. Bowers set an NFL rookie record with 112 catches for a first-year mark for a tight end with 1,194 yards receiving and was named to the AP All-Pro team. 'He's one of the better tight ends in the NFL,' Smith said. "I can't give him the ball enough. I feel bad every time I don't throw him the ball. So I'm just trying to make sure that I'm maximizing his ability, his talent, because that's going to help our team.' Jeanty is expected to be the Raiders' next Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and in fact is the favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Las Vegas took him sixth in this year's draft after Jeanty led the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing to finish second in the Heisman Trophy voting. 'Ashton is a smooth running back out of the backfield,' Smith said. 'We've seen what he can do against contact and breaking tackles. The thing that's really impressing me is his ability to catch out of the backfield. He's a real natural in that aspect.' The NFL, in the end, is a quarterback-driven league, and the onus ultimately will be on Smith to make all the pieces work in Chip Kelly's offense. The Raiders have been searching for such a quarterback. Maybe Smith is the answer. 'Geno is a hell of a quarterback," defensive end Maxx Crosby said. 'He's another guy that gets slept on for some reason, but Geno can play and he's super competitive. Getting to see him and go against him every single day has been an awesome experience so far.' ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
Winnipeg Free Press
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Geno Smith aims to bring stability and firepower to Raiders' struggling offense
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Raiders have been searching at quarterback since a messy divorce late in the 2022 season ended Derek Carr's nine-year reign. And even Carr's tenure came up short of expectations with the team making the playoffs just twice. Now the Raiders are counting on veteran Geno Smith to provide much-needed stability and add punch to an offense among the NFL's worst last season. But, he isn't expected to do it by himself in Las Vegas. He has two potentially dynamic offensive weapons in tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, as well as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who comes off his first 1,000-yard season. All three are 28 and younger, and Smith is closing in on 35 as he enters his 12th season. 'In this league, every day you got to prove yourself, not only to your guys but to the rest of the league,' Smith said. 'So for me, when you're coming to a new team, you got to set the standard, set the example, and it's through hard work. I wanted to make sure that my guys know that I was going to be here 100% of the time, going to put all the work in, going to maximize our resources and just really put our best foot forward. 'I'm not a big talker. I just want guys to kind of follow me through example, and I just try to push myself, push the guys and let the rest handle itself.' It may be a new city and a new group of teammates for Smith, but there is a sense of familiarity as he goes back to work for coach Pete Carroll. His career was in limbo when Carroll signed him in 2019 to join Seattle. He became the starter in 2022 and led the NFL that season by completing 69.8% of his passes while throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year, and the Seahawks had winning records in all three seasons with Smith at the controls. Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season, but he failed to reach an agreement to stay in Seattle. The Raiders acquired him in a March 7 trade in which they sent back a third-round draft pick. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback then signed a two-year, $75 million extension that takes him through the 2027 season. Smith said at his introductory news conference that he had 'unfinished business,' given the way his time ended in Seattle. 'He's such an all-in guy that there's no question what his commitment is and his conviction, and so that just helps the message (get) embedded even more so,' Carroll said. 'It's why he's so valuable to us.' Smith is a major reason why the Raiders have genuine hope they can improve an offense that last season ranked 29th in scoring and 27th in yardage. Having Bowers and Jeanty in the lineup are two other notable reasons for such optimism. Bowers was second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season to Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. Bowers set an NFL rookie record with 112 catches for a first-year mark for a tight end with 1,194 yards receiving and was named to the AP All-Pro team. 'He's one of the better tight ends in the NFL,' Smith said. 'I can't give him the ball enough. I feel bad every time I don't throw him the ball. So I'm just trying to make sure that I'm maximizing his ability, his talent, because that's going to help our team.' Jeanty is expected to be the Raiders' next Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and in fact is the favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Las Vegas took him sixth in this year's draft after Jeanty led the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing to finish second in the Heisman Trophy voting. 'Ashton is a smooth running back out of the backfield,' Smith said. 'We've seen what he can do against contact and breaking tackles. The thing that's really impressing me is his ability to catch out of the backfield. He's a real natural in that aspect.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The NFL, in the end, is a quarterback-driven league, and the onus ultimately will be on Smith to make all the pieces work in Chip Kelly's offense. The Raiders have been searching for such a quarterback. Maybe Smith is the answer. 'Geno is a hell of a quarterback,' defensive end Maxx Crosby said. 'He's another guy that gets slept on for some reason, but Geno can play and he's super competitive. Getting to see him and go against him every single day has been an awesome experience so far.' ___ AP NFL:
Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Geno Smith aims to bring stability and firepower to Raiders' struggling offense
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Raiders have been searching at quarterback since a messy divorce late in the 2022 season ended Derek Carr's nine-year reign. And even Carr's tenure came up short of expectations with the team making the playoffs just twice. Now the Raiders are counting on veteran Geno Smith to provide much-needed stability and add punch to an offense among the NFL's worst last season. But, he isn't expected to do it by himself in Las Vegas. He has two potentially dynamic offensive weapons in tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, as well as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who comes off his first 1,000-yard season. All three are 28 and younger, and Smith is closing in on 35 as he enters his 12th season. 'In this league, every day you got to prove yourself, not only to your guys but to the rest of the league,' Smith said. 'So for me, when you're coming to a new team, you got to set the standard, set the example, and it's through hard work. I wanted to make sure that my guys know that I was going to be here 100% of the time, going to put all the work in, going to maximize our resources and just really put our best foot forward. 'I'm not a big talker. I just want guys to kind of follow me through example, and I just try to push myself, push the guys and let the rest handle itself.' It may be a new city and a new group of teammates for Smith, but there is a sense of familiarity as he goes back to work for coach Pete Carroll. His career was in limbo when Carroll signed him in 2019 to join Seattle. He became the starter in 2022 and led the NFL that season by completing 69.8% of his passes while throwing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year, and the Seahawks had winning records in all three seasons with Smith at the controls. Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season, but he failed to reach an agreement to stay in Seattle. The Raiders acquired him in a March 7 trade in which they sent back a third-round draft pick. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback then signed a two-year, $75 million extension that takes him through the 2027 season. Smith said at his introductory news conference that he had 'unfinished business,' given the way his time ended in Seattle. 'He's such an all-in guy that there's no question what his commitment is and his conviction, and so that just helps the message (get) embedded even more so,' Carroll said. 'It's why he's so valuable to us.' Smith is a major reason why the Raiders have genuine hope they can improve an offense that last season ranked 29th in scoring and 27th in yardage. Having Bowers and Jeanty in the lineup are two other notable reasons for such optimism. Bowers was second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season to Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. Bowers set an NFL rookie record with 112 catches for a first-year mark for a tight end with 1,194 yards receiving and was named to the AP All-Pro team. 'He's one of the better tight ends in the NFL,' Smith said. 'I can't give him the ball enough. I feel bad every time I don't throw him the ball. So I'm just trying to make sure that I'm maximizing his ability, his talent, because that's going to help our team.' Jeanty is expected to be the Raiders' next Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and in fact is the favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Las Vegas took him sixth in this year's draft after Jeanty led the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing to finish second in the Heisman Trophy voting. 'Ashton is a smooth running back out of the backfield,' Smith said. 'We've seen what he can do against contact and breaking tackles. The thing that's really impressing me is his ability to catch out of the backfield. He's a real natural in that aspect.' The NFL, in the end, is a quarterback-driven league, and the onus ultimately will be on Smith to make all the pieces work in Chip Kelly's offense. The Raiders have been searching for such a quarterback. Maybe Smith is the answer. 'Geno is a hell of a quarterback,' defensive end Maxx Crosby said. 'He's another guy that gets slept on for some reason, but Geno can play and he's super competitive. Getting to see him and go against him every single day has been an awesome experience so far.' ___ AP NFL:
