GREAT DEAL: Raiders Controversial TE Draft Signing Tabbed Among Draft’s Biggest Steals

Heading into the 2024 NFL draft, there was some speculation that the tight end position might follow in the footsteps of running backs in the league, where teams would seldom use a first-round pick and could just churn through the position for a few years at time. Unless you have Travis Kelce or George Kittle, there’s little reason to spend large money on tight ends. However, the Raiders dismiss this. Give us Brock Bowers.

On Thursday, Las Vegas acquired the player who is by far the top tight-end prospect in the 2024 selection, as Bowers is expected to be the only tight end selected in the first two rounds after falling to the Raiders at No. 13.

However, the change was not well received by many. The Las Vegas Review-Journal described it as a “stunner,” with columnist Ed Graney writing, “Love the player.” “Not so much the pick.”

Pro Football Focus believes this is too low for a player of Bowers’ calibre. The site identified the four best first-round steals in the NFL draft, and Bowers was among them—despite the Raiders suing Michael Mayer for a second-round pick last year. But PFF praised the Raiders for thinking outside the box.

“This could turn out to be a savvy move to zig while the rest of the league zags, allowing Las Vegas to frequently operate in 12 personnel,” the site wrote, referring to the idea of deploying two tight end sets.
Bowers is 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds, and he was anticipated to be a top-10 choice in this year’s draft. He played 40 games at Georgia over three seasons, helping the Bulldogs win two national titles. He accumulated 2,538 yards on 175 receptions and scored 31 touchdowns.

PFF listed him as the No. 6 overall prospect, and he finished the season with an 84.4 grade, ranking him second among 468 tight ends in college football.

According to draft analyst Colton Edwards, Bowers possesses the characteristics, attributes, and skill set necessary to be a cornerstone of an NFL organization. A cornerstone, such as Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, where the offence revolves on him.”

That’s great praise, but it reflects Bowers’ potential.

PFF added, in an article titled “2024 NFL Draft: Biggest steals of Day 1,” including Brock Bowers and Laiatu Latu: “Topping the 85th percentile in three of PFF’s most stable metrics, Bowers saw only nine contested targets in 2022 while creating easy separation against SEC linebackers and defensive backs. He frequently created plays after the catch, averaging 7.6 yards per reception and ranking second among Power Five tight ends in yards per route run.

Raiders Still Looking for New Quarterback
Bowers’ talent is impressive, and the Raiders now have a loaded group of pass-catchers with him and Mayer inside, with Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams as receivers, but the issue for the Raiders remains: who will throw passes to all of these catchers?

One of the Raiders’ draft aims was to find a quarterback for the future and possibly the present, someone who could compete with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell for the starting job in 2024 or serve as a long-term developmental option.

However, when the Raiders made their selection, six—six!—quarterbacks were not available: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., JJ McCarthy, and Bo Nix. There was absolutely no one left to draft.

If you’re looking for the Raiders’ next quarterback, Spencer Rattler from South Carolina and Tyler Pratt from Tulane are two potential Day 2 picks. Don’t be surprised if one of them throws passes to Bowers during training camp.