Dez Bryant’s Cryptic Post in 2022 is Coming True in Las Vegas

Back in 2022, former Dallas Cowboys superstar Dez Bryant took to X (formerly Twitter) with a cryptic message that has aged like fine wine. Bryant tweeted:

“The best tight end the NFL will ever host is not in the NFL yet… can anybody guess the tight end I’m referring to? He’s a dynamic college athlete.”

At the time, many fans speculated who the All-Pro wideout was referring to, but a few years later, his answer came to light. Bryant confirmed the mystery prospect was none other than Las Vegas Raiders superstar Brock Bowers, the tight end from the University of Georgia in 2022. Fast forward to now, and Bowers’ trajectory suggests Bryant might have been onto something all along.

Now, could he have just said Bowers after seeing the type of rookie season he had? Absolutely. But let’s assume Bryant meant the tweet was about Bowers all along.

Dez Bryant’s Early Prediction Comes Full Circle

Appearing on Vegas Sports Today back in 2024, Bryant didn’t mince words when asked about the Raiders’ selection of Bowers.

“I think [Bowers] was probably was [a] top-three talent coming out of that draft,” said Bryant. “He’s a Hall-of-Fame tight end. He’s got that type of ability, so hopefully, the Raiders go out there and use him right.”

And use him right the Raiders did, given what Bowers achieved in his first NFL season. He finished his rookie campaign with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. His 112 catches were the third-most in the entire NFL last season and easily the most among tight ends. That number also set the record for most receptions by a rookie TE in NFL history, surpassing Puka Nacua’s 105 receptions just a year prior.

On top of that, his 1,194 yards shattered the long-standing record for rookie tight ends previously held by Chicago Bears Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka, who had 1,076 back in 1961.

Is Brock Bowers Hall of Fame Bound?

Bowers’ 112 catches weren’t just for a rookie record; it also set the Raiders’ single-season receptions record. Plus, among tight ends, only two players in NFL history have ever caught more passes in a season. And in four different games, he hauled in at least 10 receptions, another rookie tight end record.

It’s safe to say Dez Bryant wasn’t exaggerating when he said Bowers has “Hall of Fame” potential. Few first-year players, at any position, make this kind of impact, and his versatility gives Las Vegas one of the most unique weapons in the league.

And he’s bound to break even more records with Geno Smith coming over as QB1 in Las Vegas.

It’s easy to get carried away with the hype. There’s no guarantee that Bowers will stay on this trajectory toward greatness, and he certainly isn’t the unanimous choice as the NFL’s top tight end just yet. That said, he’s already cemented himself as the premier fantasy option at tight end (bonus points!). And to be honest, the odds feel far greater that Bowers one day lands in the Hall of Fame than that he flames out as a bust.

For a franchise long associated with offensive playmakers, Bowers looks like the next cornerstone for the Raiders. Bryant saw it coming years ago, but now everyone else sees it too. If his rookie season is barely scratching the surface, Las Vegas may have found not just its tight end of the future, but one of the greatest of all time.