With elite Brock Bowers as the starter and Michael Mayer a reliable backup, the Las Vegas Raiders tight end room looks like it’s set and isn’t an area of opportunity.
But looks can be deceiving.
With Klint Kubiak now the head coach and offensive play caller, bolstering the tight end position further is indeed an area of opportunity. Largely due to Kubiak’s penchant to trot out three-tight end sets to help establish an effective run game and also lull defenses into sleep and run passing concepts out of those
said formations.
So while Bowers and Mayer do provide a quality 1-2 punch for Kubiak’s Raiders, the third spot exponentially rises in importance. And currently, the Raiders boast veteran Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. and Carter Runyon as the tight ends on the roster beyond Bowers and Mayer. While the aforementioned duo of Okwuegbunam and Runyon provide pass-catching options at the position group, a traditional in-line “Y” tight end would be ideal to allow Kubiak to maximize his offense.
The 2026 NFL Draft is ample opportunity to do just that.
Thus, Stanford’s Sam Roush.
By The Numbers
Sam Roush, Tight End, Stanford
- 2025: 12 games, 49 receptions, 545 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Career: (2022-25), 48 games, 119 receptions, 1,201 yards, 4 touchdowns
The draft projections for this Cardinal tight end varies with Roush predicted to go as high as the late second round to mid rounds (fourth and fifth). The general consensus seems to be the Stanford product going in Day 3 (rounds four through seven) and if that holds true, that’ll suite Las Vegas quite well as the team has three fourth round picks (No. 102, 117, and 134) currently at its disposal heading into the annual event slated for April 23-25.
Measuring in at the NFL Scouting Combine at 6-foot-6 and 267 pounds, Roush is one of the standout prospects int his draft class that is a plug-and-play in-line blocking tight end. It’s his size, toughness, and readymade pro-blocking profile that is pushing Roush up the draft consideration charts.
Relied upon to be an extension of Stanford’s offensive line from his sophomore year on (2023-25), Roush become a foundational piece of the Cardinal blocking scheme. His ability to produce knee bend, pad level, hands and inside leverage can make offensive linemen blush and the tight end is comfortable in a variety of blocking schemes from zone to gap, which portends good things if the Raiders are interested. Roush not only has the desire to run through initial contact and meet his assignments head on with power, he has the footwork to position himself to help seal or escort teammates on wide zone runs — which is going to be a staple of Kubiak’s Raiders offense.
Stanford stresses to its tight ends the importance of working up to the linebackers on combo blocks and this is exactly what Kubiak expects from his blockers in Las Vegas — which makes Roush a tailor-made type to fit the scheme being installed by this new Raiders coaching staff.
The other aspect of Roush’s game — pass catching — is a most definite work in progress. While he has good hands and has the skillset to be a zone beater, Roush won’t be confused for Bowers or even Mayer at this point. While he plays up to his size when tasked with blocking, that same 6-foot-6 and 267-pound frame is noticeably absent as a receiver.
While Roush may not be a stiff Frankenstein-type as a route runner or getting in and out of breaks, he lacks the separation for a a pass catcher of his size. Which doesn’t bode well initially as playing man on Roush means NFL defenders can stick to him like glue.
During his time at Stanford, there were instances where despite being a tall and bulky tight end, contested passes his way were incomplete due to not being able to box out, out-jump, out-physical defenders. A coaching staff that will not only hone his physical blocking nature but marry that into his Roush’s ability as a receiving tight end will help develop the Tennessee native into a well-rounded pro.
What helps Roush in this regard his is overall intelligence and ability to assimilate quickly to his environment. He’s a quick learner who doesn’t need to be habitually harped upon and you combine that with his size, toughness, and willingness to be a blocker and extension of the offensive line, and Roush should appeal to a number of NFL teams.
If Kubiak’s intention is to truly create a domineering run game in the desert, adding Roush to a tight end room that already features Bowers and Mayer will make it a three-headed monster in Las Vegas. Adding a talented prospect like the Stanford tight end gives Kubiak the ability to comfortably trot out three-tight end sets with impunity.
