Longshot Look: Justin Shorter a young athlete in crowded tight end room

Converted wide receiver needs to establish himself as a special teamer to make 53-man roster

On a team where there’s an unquestioned young starter and another young and promising all-around backup, Justin Shorter can be seen as a luxury item. If not, superfluous.

The converted wide receiver-turned tight end brings athleticism and youth to the Las Vegas Raiders tight end room. But it’s a position group that’s the last of the Silver & Black’s worry spots.

The tight ends on the roster include: Sensational youngster in Brock Bowers who had a record-setting rookie season in 2024; a promising all-around-type in Michael Mayer, and a recently added veteran Ian Thomas. Bowers is the youngest of the group at 22, Mayer is still only 23 after being drafted in the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft, Shorter is 24 (25 on April 17), and Thomas is the oldest at 28.

How things stand now, Bowers is the clear-cut starter, Mayer has the inside track to be the No. 2, while Shorter, Thomas, and potentially another rookie or free agent signing down the road, duke it out in camp for reserve roles.

Shorter, who played his college ball at Penn State and then Florida, was a big wide receiver prospect heading into the 2023 draft standing 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds. The Buffalo Bills picked the former Gator in the fifth round (150th overall) but he landed on injured reserve (hamstring injury) in August of that year.

One year later, the Bills released Shorter and the wideout landed on the Raiders practice squad on Aug. 29, 2024, but as a tight end.

In Las Vegas this past season, Shorter was activated for 10 games in a reserve role and was primarily a special teamer earning 126 snaps for Tom McMahon’s unit. His participate rate on offense was light at just 25 total snaps.

While it’s certainly not impossible for Shorter to make an impression and move up the depth chart at tight end, the converted wide receiver supplanting Mayer in the pecking order is quite the tall order. Yes, the third-year pro was brought up as a potential trade candidate this offseason, but his experience and production at the tight end spot surpasses Shorter. Not only is Mayer bigger at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, but he’s more developed as a blocker in the pros.

Unless Mayer is shipped off to another team or misses substantial time this coming season (he played in only 11 games (eight starts) in 2024 hauling in 21 passes for 156 yards and zero end zone visits), Shorter’s path to a 53-man roster spot is showcasing the athleticism and drive on special teams.

Shorter did post a 4.55-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine heading into the 2023 draft. He’s got long arms (33 ³⁄₄ inches) and wingspan to be be a mainstay on special teams coverage units.

Thomas is likely to put up a good fight for a roster consideration, though. At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, the veteran is more of an in-line blocker than receiving option. Taken in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2018 draft by the Carolina Panthers, Thomas’ production as a pass catcher decreased from his rookie season on. Catching 36 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2018, Thomas’ highest production after that was a 2022 season where he hauled in 21 passes for 197 yards (zero touchdowns).

The past two seasons, Thomas’ participated on offense waned and to the point in 2024 he played only 94 snaps on offense and nine on special teams.

The Raiders, under head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, are slated to run the ball (a lot) and having tight ends who can not only run routes and catch passes but can also block in the ground game and aerial attack is going to be vital.

That’s the developing area of Shorter. While he does offer plus athleticism and youth to be a valued special teamer, if he has aspirations of being a contributor on offense, he’ll need to prove he can be a reliable blocker along with refining his route running and tree.

If not, another go-around on the Raiders practice squad or the free agent market it is.